Mayor Dudley campaigned on promises to “take the city in a different direction” and conduct business in the “open.” In the first two months we have seen a trail of bodies, mistakes, and costs adding up to almost a half-million dollars so far.

I would invite Mayor Dudley to share his vision for the “different direction” he wants to take Oak Harbor, and enlighten the citizens about how those decisions have made our city a better place. I would also remind our mayor that the city council members (some of whom were elected by a larger majority than he was) were not elected for the purpose of “rubber stamping” his agenda, but rather, to use their collective wisdom and leadership to guide and promote the well-being of the city.

And finally, I applaud the city council for being willing to insist on the transparency, honesty, and ethical standards we expect in our elected officials. It appears that the council will have a challenging time of it; please accept my thanks and gratitude for doing your jobs in an utmost, professional way.

Judy Smith

Oak Harbor