Regardless of who wins the race for mayor of Oak Harbor, there’s no doubt that unifying the city at all levels will be job number one.

From his regular firing of city employees and subseqent claims to the secretive Sunday morning felling of the beloved Garry oak outside the Oak Harbor post office, Scott Dudley’s reign has been a series of gaffes. To describe his relationship with the council as contentious is an understatement.

At times, the mayor and council engaged in embarrassing public spats that revealed just how deep the animosity and dysfunction run.

Councilmen Jim Campbell and Bob Severns each maintains he is the uniter that Oak Harbor needs in the wake of the Dudley era.

While we like and admire both Campbell and Severns for their professional experience, dedication to community and friendly demeanor, we are giving our endorsement for mayor to Severns.

Campbell could certainly perform the job of mayor competently, but we believe Severns brings a greater breadth of experience to the job.

While he is respected and works well with his fellow council members, Severns says he is no “yes” man  and will stand on his own to make the best decisions on behalf of the people of the city.

Campbell now distances himself from Dudley and his actions, but he wasn’t so quick to do so in the past.

In 2012, as Dudley dropped the ax on then-fire chief Mark Soptich and forced out police chief Rick Wallace, Campbell’s response was that the mayor “must have had good reason.”

“It’s his prerogative,” Campbell said at the time.

Ultimately, Dudley’s exercise of his “prerogative” to fire at will cost the city thousands upon thousands of dollars in settlements.

Severns lists the following as his priorities if, on Nov. 3, he is elected mayor:

-Restoring credibility and relationships in local government;

-Promoting economic development;

-Creating lasting partnerships;

-Overseeing building the wastewater treatment plant while keeping rates affordable;

-Taking customer service to a new level, and;

-Fostering an atmosphere of communication, collaboration and community-building.

Severns espouses the importance of transparency and openness in government, something none of us should be taking for granted.

In the Island Transit fiasco that unfolded last year, we saw what happens when a government agency thumbs its nose at being transparent and open.

Government representatives must be accountable to the people they work for — the taxpayers. When electing leaders, voters need to pay attention to not only what the candidates say, but the actions that back up their words.

Meanwhile, the voters’ job doesn’t end at the ballot box.

Cast your ballot, then hold your elected representatives accountable.