Oak Harbor City Council appears ‘all in’ to run again

It looks like all of the Oak Harbor City Council members whose terms expire this year will seek reelection.

It looks like all of the Oak Harbor City Council members whose terms expire this year will seek reelection.

At the same time, Councilman Bob Severns is going full-speed ahead in his campaign to unseat Mayor Scott Dudley.

Councilwoman Beth Munns announced this week that she will seek reelection. She said her campaign will focus on safety and future investment, noting that the sewage treatment plant is a major investment that “will benefit our city for decades to come.”

In her announcement, she noted that she is a 30-year resident of Oak Harbor with a long history of supporting the Navy and those in need. She serves on the boards of Island Thrift and the Help House, is a key organizer of the annual Military Appreciation Picnic and past president of United Way of Island County and the Navy League.

As a councilwoman, Munns said she works to build consensus into action and believes that the city isn’t a place for personal agendas.

“We must firmly decide the best direction and move forward,” she said. “Inaction is costly. I want to improve our community.”

Councilwoman Tara Hizon hasn’t formally announcement, but she said she does plan to seek reelection barring any unforeseen circumstances.

It’s a job she said she finds very rewarding.

“It’s so gratifying to be able to be in a position to be able to help my community,” she said.

A 1996 graduate of Oak Harbor High School, Hizon has been an active member of the community since her teens.

As the youngest member of the council, she said she has a unique perspective that would otherwise be missing from the body. She advocates for youth as the city’s representative on the Oak Harbor Youth Coalition.

And like all council members, she’s been involved in the sewage treatment plant project, which is the largest project that the city has ever undertaken. She said she wants to see the project and other ongoing issues to the end.

“I would love to be there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony,” she said.

Councilman Rick Almberg was the first of the three council members to announce that he is seeking reelection.

Mayor Dudley’s term expires this year. He hasn’t made a formal announcement, but said he will likely throw his hat in the ring.

Severns filed with the state Public Disclosure Commissioner as a mayoral candidate and has already raised more than $10,000 toward his campaign. Among those who have donated to his campaign are Oak Harbor Chamber Executive Director Christine Cribb, chamber President Jason McFadyen, attorney Chris Skinner, former mayor Jim Slowik, Oak Harbor School Board member Gary Wallin and council members Joel Servatius, Almberg and Munns.