Oak Harbor’s decision to spend up to $50,000 to purchase the Whidbey Island Marathon is a bit audacious, but it fits in with the times. Why not give it a try?

In an era when the federal government effectively owns General Motors, American Insurance Group and several large banks and props up numerous other institutions, why can’t Oak Harbor own a foot race that contributes financially to the community?

This is a bold move by Mayor Jim Slowik, who to date has been a steady, rational hand at the helm of city government. He’s done an outstanding job bringing the council together and focusing on the basic needs of the community, so let’s see what he can do with the marathon.

The city should not be dipping into the general fund for marathon money. The idea is to use proceeds from the tax on hotel and motel rooms, which means it doesn’t cost local taxpayers a thing. And it’s good to finally keep some of that money at home. Typically it goes to print up and distribute tourist brochures, hire tourism promoters or buy advertising off-island. Remember the “Do Nothing Here” advertising slogan? Surely the marathon is a better idea than that.

With the marathon, Whidbey Island athletes have a challenging event to participate in locally as friends and families cheer them on. Now that it will be city-owned, various civic groups can participate enthusiastically in helping it succeed. And islanders in general will have an entertaining event to follow every spring. A few people will continue to complain about all those runners clogging up the roads, but in general islanders have always supported the event.

If the mayor can make the marathon a success, we can continue to have 2,000 or more visitors to North Whidbey every spring spending their money on rooms, restaurants and granola bars. The present owner of the marathon wants out, and it would be financially painful to many businesses to see it go away, particularly in these difficult economic times.

Of course, the enterprise raises numerous questions about the costs and logistics associated with staging a complex marathon that draws runners from thousands of miles around. But the mayor is a businessman, he’s surrounded by astute business people on the city council, and he’s got sharp financial advisors on city staff. Give them a chance to make it work. If it blows up, well, that’s why we have elections.