One of the three candidates running for the mayor of Oak Harbor is going to be knocked out of the race Sept. 16 in what will be the only primary election on Whidbey Island.

The election, presently underway through absentee balloting, may be difficult for voters since the three candidates have many similar viewpoints, but with varied backgrounds and experience.

Mayor Patty Cohen is a popular and seasoned veteran of city politics. Councilman Eric Gerber is a former city employee and the youngest person to ever run for the office. Councilman Bob Morrison is an ex-Navy man with extensive history in management positions within corporate America.

All the candidates agree, however, that economic development and revitalization is one of the most important — if not the most important — campaign issue. They each believe that a healthy economy helps to make a community a better place to live for just about everybody. They each also have pointed out that the community has a long, long history of creating plans and strategies to boost the economy, but then never following through on them.

Yet the candidates each have a plan to change that pattern.

The most unique plan comes from Bob Morrison. He said he wants to “get the city of the the economic development business” by appointing a group of citizens to act as economic development coordinators.

“I want to empower a group of citizens to negotiate for the city,” he said, “to help bring in business.”

Morrison said he already has a group of local business people who are willing to volunteer their time and get to work. The purpose of the committee would be to identify appropriate businesses and then work to bring them to Oak Harbor. The committee, which would work within the city’s development services department, could help businesses find property, explain the development process and negotiate on behalf of the council.

“The general thing that makes cities succeed,” he said, “is the general attitude of ‘what we can do for you, not ‘what you need to do.’”

He added that he’s in favor of luring businesses to the city by offering incentives like breaks on development fees. “We should sacrifice on the front end to collect on the back end,” he said.

Yet Morrison pointed out that the council would have to approve any deals that the committee makes with a business.

If elected, Gerber said he plans to work with the council to develop both long-term and short-term plans for economic development. He said the city could learn from other communities which have developed unique strategies for improving the economy.

Gerber said the city should start setting aside funding for a major project, such as a cultural center or a downtown plaza. He pointed out that the municipal dock project is moving through the permitting process, but nobody has seriously discussed how to fund the city match which will likely be necessary.

“We’ve never concentrated on the future,” he said.

In the short term, Gerber suggested that the parks department could help facilitate sports tournaments in the city. He said baseball, soccer and other tournaments can bring many visitors and a whole lot of money into the community.

“The key is that it takes a small amount of capital to accomplish,” he said. “A year from now, we could have an event every weekend.”

Gerber said he has a group of local business people who support his ideas and are very excited about the potential tourism revenue from bringing tournaments to Oak Harbor.

To develop these plans, Gerber said he would work closely with the city council. He’s strongly opposed to hiring another consultant to come up with another plan. “One thing I’ve learned,” he said, “is the need to have buy-in from the city council, the citizens and the administration.”

Cohen has been criticized by the other candidates for her alleged failure to enact or focus on an economic development plan during her nearly four years in office. “After years of no economic development planning, why is it suddenly a priority for the mayor?” Morrison asked. “Because it’s an election year.”

Yet Cohen points back at the council. “Council hasn’t taken the time to sit and come up with a definition of what economic development is,” she said.

But for the last four years, Cohen said she’s been focusing on improving the internal workings of the city government to make it more efficient and more user-friendly. She said the greatest challenge has been to change the “culture” of City Hall to be more helpful and proactive. Now that these changes have largely been accomplished, she said it’s time to develop an economic development plan.

Cohen also said she plans to work with the city council to develop an economic plan. She hopes to sit down with the council early next year and develop a philosophy of economic development, then put together a plan. She said she sees herself as both a coach and a cheerleader who’s role is to focus and encourage the council members.

Like Gerber, Cohen said the council needs to budget for economic development projects.

After the plan is completed, Cohen said the next step is to make it happen, which is where a strong mayor is needed. She said she can help cut through the distractions and egos that have been obstacles in the past.

The key, Cohen said, is “to get everyone on board” with the plan.

“Greater success will come with greater ownership,” she said.

The polls will be open Tuesday, Sept. 16 for those who do not vote by absentee ballot.

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