Martha Yount, the surprise third candidate in the race for Oak Harbor mayor, didn’t decide to run for the office until the final day of the filing period.

In fact, she contributed to a challenger’s campaign before making the decision. She said she gave a check to Councilman Bob Severns before deciding to run herself.

“I’m not running against anyone,” she said. “I’m running for our city.”

Severns said he was a little surprised when she announced. He said she’s always been a big supporter of his.

“I’m happy for her,” he said. “I know she stays involved and she’s a nice person.”

Severns and Councilman Jim Campbell announced their candidacy for the office prior to Filing Week. Mayor Scott Dudley isn’t running for reelection.

Yount’s candidacy means that the race is headed to the Aug. 4 primary. The top two vote-getters will continue to the general election.

Yount, a retired businesswoman and Navy widow, said her priorities as mayor would be to forge a stronger relationship with the Navy base, ensure the safety of the citizens and foster teamwork among city leaders.

“I care about our city and its future,” she said. “I want what’s best for our city.”

Yount and her late husband, Richart, first came to Oak Harbor with the Navy in 1967. She said they left and returned several times before moving to the community permanently in the mid-1970s.

They started Whidbey Island Computers, the island’s first computer store, and ran it for 18 years before retiring. Her business experience, she said, gives her the necessary experience to be mayor.

Yount said she’s the kind of person who will do what she can to help others. It’s what lead her to become interested in city politics. She wanted to educate herself about what’s going on so that she can help others.

She’s long been involved in the city, she said, but she’s never been out for recognition.

“I’m very much a low-key, support person as opposed to the leader of the band, so to speak,” she said.

While she’s seen a lot of focus on tourism, she said her priorities are a little different.

“Tourism is important,” she said. “But the citizens who live here full time are even more important. They both needed to be managed for the best.”