Oak Harbor mayor urges critics to run

Oak Harbor Mayor Ronnie Wright ended his annual State of the City address on Thursday with a blunt directive for his detractors.

Addressing a crowd of roughly 100 people at the Elks Lodge, Wright told those who criticize the administration to step into the race for office if they believe they can perform better.

“It’s so easy for people to sit behind a keyboard and put things online about us,” Wright said. “What I say to each and every one of them is that if you can do better, step up and run for office and do the job. Otherwise, shut up.”

The mayor, who took office in January 2024, said he is “probably” running for reelection before his term concludes in 2027. The address required advance registration, and the audience included council members and city staff.

Wright used the speech to detail the city's response to state growth mandates. Under the Growth Management Act, Oak Harbor must plan for approximately 9,900 additional residents, a figure that equates to about 4,000 new housing units.

He reported that 235 new homes have been completed, 233 are currently under construction, and another 417 are in the development phase. Wright argued that new construction creates jobs and brings customers to local shops and restaurants.

The mayor also outlined changes in city department leadership. Craig Llamas-Cole serves as the new Parks and Recreation director, replacing Brian Smith who left in March. In human resources, Kristina Hines was hired in May to replace Emma House, who resigned in April after being placed on administrative leave.

Staffing levels have increased under Wright's administration. He stated that 48 new employees joined the city, including 31 full-time workers. Wright described improved staff morale as one of his “biggest wins as the mayor.”

Public safety investments were a central theme of the address. The Fire Department opened a second station in June after a year of construction, aiming to improve response times in the southwestern part of the city. Wright said the project came in under budget.

The city also launched a full-time fire academy, saving more than $60,000 that would have been spent sending recruits to a state facility. The Police Department opened a new training center in May and received state funding for wellness counseling for law enforcement personnel in Island and Skagit counties.

Despite these expenditures, the city faces a financial challenge. Wright noted that Oak Harbor will endure approximately $7.74 million in budget cuts in the coming biennium. The reductions will delay road and stormwater projects and pause contributions to reserve funds as revenue stagnates.

Wright said the administration has secured $11.1 million in grants since 2024. He maintained that the city remains in a stronger financial position than many other Washington communities despite rising service costs and flat income.