Oak Harbor Mayor Ronnie Wright: Run for office or stay silent
During his State of the City address, the mayor urged online critics to seek elected positions if they believe they can manage the city better.
By Amina Yusuf ·
Oak Harbor Mayor Ronnie Wright ended his annual State of the City address with a blunt directive for his online critics: run for office or remain quiet.
Wright delivered the speech Thursday at the Elks Lodge before an audience of roughly 100 people. He stated that it is easy for individuals to post complaints online without understanding the administrative workload. “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,” Wright said.
The mayor outlined specific infrastructure and staffing changes implemented during his tenure. He noted that 235 new homes are completed, 233 are under construction, and 417 are in development. These figures respond to Growth Management Act requirements that call for the city to plan for approximately 9,900 additional residents and 4,000 new housing units.
Wright highlighted financial measures taken to balance the city’s operations. The Oak Harbor Fire Department opened a second station in June, a project that finished under budget. The city also launched a full-time fire academy, saving more than $60,000 in costs previously spent sending recruits to state facilities. In human resources, the city hired 48 new employees, including 31 full-time workers, following the resignation of former director Emma House in April.
The administration faces a budget that includes $7.74 million in cuts over the next two years. These reductions will delay road and stormwater projects. Despite the constrained revenue, Wright reported that the city has secured $11.1 million in grants since 2024. He characterized Oak Harbor’s financial status as stronger than that of many other Washington cities.
Wright took office in January 2024 and will enter the final year of his term in 2027. He told the News-Times that he is probably running for reelection. His comments follow a decision by the city in August to disable comments on its social media channels.
City communications officer Magi Aguilar announced at the start of the event that there would be no live question and answer session. Attendees were asked to submit comment cards instead. Wright said he will address those questions in an upcoming video series.
Source: South Whidbey Record
