In the upcoming election, voters seem most interested in races for elected positions that don’t normally get much attention. Like seats on the hospital district, the fire district, and the park and recreation district.

Over 100 residents crowded into the Oak Harbor School Administration building Thursday night for a candidates forum sponsored by Whidbey Island League of Women Voters and KWDB radio.

Early on, the audience peppered the hospital candidates and a fire district candidate with tough questions. But the crowd thinned out by the time the candidates for mayor and city council took the stage.

One of the most heated exchange came between firefighters in the audience and Fire District 2 Commissioner Bruce Carman, who is running against challenger Larry Morse.

Morse said he plans to focus on open meetings, if elected, because “the current board of commissioners is not responding to the volunteer personnel.” Mike Lamar, a former fire chief for District 2, also accused Carman of shutting the public out of public meetings.

Carman defended himself, saying that the public is always allowed to speak at meetings, though he did admit to one exception. He said he cut off public comment during a meeting about the controversy over going from two fire chiefs to just one.

“We reached a point where the input had to stop because it was going nowhere,” he said.

Another firefighter questioned Carman’s contention that the district has five- and 10-year plans for budget, fire equipment and apparatus. The chief officer in the department said he’d never seen the plan.

Carman answered that the plans do exist and promised to show his interrogator. In addition, Carman stressed all that the department has accomplished in the last 13 years he’s been on the board. “My primary concern,” he said, “is to ensure the safety and training of our volunteers and spend the taxpayers’ money wisely.”

Hospital differences

The race between a former nurse and a doctor also seems very contentious, judging by the forum crowd. Amy Ayers and Dr. Paul Zaveruha are running for the hospital commissioner position vacated by Peter Borden. The race has drawn public attention over the issue of whether Zaveruha would have a conflict of interest because he’s the Emergency Medical Services director.

Ayers, a registered nurse and the former chief operating officer at the hospital, stressed the need to bring more patients to the hospital. She said she “strongly endorsed patient-centered care,” a philosophy that became controversial due to training costs.

Zaveruha pointed to the hospital’s ongoing budget problems and said he wants to bring fiscal responsibility back to the board. He said he wants to “rescue the hospital from the current financial crisis and management difficulties” and stop the “revolving door of doctors.”

Bob Zylstra, an audience member, asked Zaveruha what he intends to do about “the huge conflict of interest” and how he can be effective when he may have to recuse himself from major decisions.

Zaveruha said he will give up his pay as EMS director if “the proper state authorities” decide he does have a conflict. He added he’d only have to recuse himself on issues directly relevant to the EMS position. He pointed out that many public hospitals have doctors on their boards.

Ayers also took some heat. Debra Farmer, a nurse who was laid off, pointed out that the entire medical staff of the hospital agreed on a “complete and absolute vote of no confidence” against Ayers. “In lieu of this,” Farmer said, “why would someone want to vote you into an elected position when you don’t have the support of the medical staff?”

Ayers admitted that the no-confidence vote took place, but she said it was six or seven years ago. “In a follow-up meeting, the medical staff agreed they would work with me,” she said.

Park race sparks

Fred Smyth, a North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioner, is facing Tom Johnson, who led the recall effort against two commissioners. Both men were clear about their differences in philosophies. Johnson wants to make sure the swimming pool and related facilities are taken care of first and foremost. “I see no reason to duplicate programs already provided by over 120 organizations,” he said, referring to the groups that offer youth activities.

Smyth believes the district has enough funds for both the pool and non-aquatic youth programs.

“I pledge to continue my efforts on behalf of your children,” he said.

T.J. Harmon-Fisher, a current commissioner, said that interest in the board has increased because of recent controversies involving a recall attempt and fighting among members. Also, the commissioners — including Harmon-Fisher — drew heat from a group of pool supporters for trying to work with the Boys and Girls Club for a youth program.

Nevertheless, she said she wants to “continue to explore partnerships” with other agencies and groups.

Her challenger, retired dentist Fred Henninger, said he’s running because he was “ticked off” by the way the board treated him. He’s trying to work with the district to build an indoor tennis facility.

School challengers

The two candidates challenging two incumbent school board members argued that there is a need for a change. Incumbents Kathy Jones and Vicki Harring, however, stressed the board’s successes and their own experience.

Roy Seth, who’s challenging Harring, offered some unique ideas. He said the board should start a search committee to replace Superintendent Rick Schulte since he may be looking for a new job.

“Issues before the school board,” Seth said, “don’t make it to the radar screen until it comes to a crisis.”

Seth also said the district should build a large cash reserve by not spending federal Impact Aid. The cash reserve could be used for emergencies.

Brien Lillquist, Jones’ challenger, discussed the WASL testing and the importance of getting students up to speed on the test. He said he’s against building a big, new stadium near the high school instead of fixing the current stadium. He said the proposed $3 million price tag for moving the stadium is too high.

Also, Lillquist said the school board should bring more modest levy proposals before the voters. “Let voters chose what they want instead of lumping it all together,” he said.

Jones agreed that it was a mistake to bring the same levy to remodel the high school and build a new stadium before the voters twice. But she said the high school still needs to be remodeled. She said the district needs “a new team” to put together a levy proposal.

Also, Jones said she was proud that she supported teachers’ demands for higher wages.

Harring emphasized the board’s accomplishments, which she said included passing the first levy in 30 years, starting a hot lunch program that served 3,300 lunches a day and hiring the “best teachers for our children.”

Two vie for mayor

Both Oak Harbor Mayor Patty Cohen and her challenger, Councilman Bob Morrison, focused on the importance of creating an economic improvement program in the city, which they said was especially important given the possibility of base closure.

Morrison proposed that the city start a “pro-active diversified economic strategy.” He said that he has a group of volunteers who are ready to go to work to bring appropriate businesses to the city. He pointed out that the city could work with many of the businesses in the nation that relocate businesses. He said the group’s first step would be to create a DVD “extolling the virtues of Oak Harbor.”

Cohen said she wants to work with the city council to create “an economic improvement program with a budget to support it.” She discussed how well the downtown area is doing, but said more work needs to be done.

“We need to sit down as a group,” she said, “and collectively come up with a strategy, and hopefully that strategy will include downtown.”

Cohen was also critical of the community for creating a plethora of plans but never following through on them. “Either way,” she said, “we’ve got to stop talking about economic development or we need to do something about it.”

She suggested “dusting off” the 1995 North Whidbey Community Diversification Action Plan.

The plan calls for creation of a public development authority with taxing authority, which evolved in the mid-1990s into the idea of a port district. The proposed port was soundly defeated by the voters. Also, the plan states that the city should annex the commercial Goldie Road area, a move that some say Cohen’s administration has dragged its feet on.

City council races

The four people running for two open Oak Harbor council seats also discussed economic development, but focused on what can be done about the downtrodden Midway Boulevard area.

Clairann Haney, a postal employee, is running against school teacher Sue Karahalios. Haney stressed that economic development should include jobs, adding that she’s very concerned about the amount of poverty and homelessness she sees.

Haney said the city needs more development on Pioneer Way, closer to Highway 20, in order to bring more people into the area.

Karahalios said that it’s the city council’s job to create a positive business atmosphere in the city, but the city shouldn’t try to “spot zone” or dictate what type of development goes in certain areas. She said the council should work with other organizations, like the Chamber of Commerce, to improve the economy.

Former Councilman Larry Eaton, who’s running against incumbent Nora O’Connell-Balda, said the city’s role in economic development is to create a positive business atmosphere and “make sure the process is fair for everyone.”

“We have to leave, I think, that part of the economy,” he said, “to those who do that best. That is, private entrepreneurs in a free market economy.”

O’Connell-Balda said the city needs to gain a better understanding of what businesses are looking for in a community. She said she was in favor of luring new businesses.

“There’s nothing wrong with the word ‘recruiting,’” she said. “it’s probably one of the best options we have.”

In addition, Haney said she’s concerned about the lack of affordable housing and state of the city’s water supply. She was the only candidate to express reservations with the council partnering with the school district.

“it’s not the job of city government to promote schools,” she said. She pointed out there there are also religious and home-school organizations in the city.

Karahalios focused on the importance of city leaders to network with other local, state and federal officials. Karahalios said she, as a former state representative, has many contacts.

Eaton said he’s concerned about the water supply, as well as other infrastructure in the city. He said the city isn’t keeping up with building the infrastructure needed for continual growth. Also, he said he believes in a strong council form of government.

“Ultimately, the council is responsible,” he said.

You can reach News-Times reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611.