Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley is taking his criticism of the board of Island Transit to other elected officials across the island, though his message may not be well received.

Dudley, who may be seeking re-election next year, is making Island Transit his personal crusade.

Dudley said Monday that he plans to attend council meetings next month in Langley and Coupeville to ask mayors and council members “to take a look at who is representing them at Island Transit.”

He said he also plans to attend an Island County commissioners’ meeting after the new member is elected Nov. 4. Democrat Karla Jacks and Republican Rick Hannold are vying for the seat vacated by Kelly Emerson.

Dudley is calling on all board members to resign in the wake of financial difficulties, recent audit findings and news that former IT director Martha Rose received a payout of more than $100,000 even though the audit showed she wasn’t marking down all of her vacation hours.

“People are livid. And rightly so,” Dudley said. “People should be upset.

“People should be pissed. This is their money.”

Coupeville Councilman Bob Clay is the chairman of the transit board and the acting director. Other members are Langley Councilman Jim Sundberg and Island County commissioners Helen Price Johnson and Aubrey Vaughan.

Oak Harbor Councilman Jim Campbell resigned last week from the IT board and called on the other board members to do likewise. The Oak Harbor Council appointed Dudley as the city’s representative on the board until the end of the year.

Langley Mayor Fred McCarthy said Dudley is welcome to address the council, but added he has no plans to replace Sundberg.

“My sense is that Jim Sundberg is a very qualified person who has a lot to contribute to solving the problems at Island Transit,” he said.

He noted that Sundberg has nearly a decade of experience working with municipal budgets, holds a master’s degree in city planning and was trained in human resources.

Sundberg has been on the transit board for two years.

“To solve the problems, they need someone with institutional history,” he said.

Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard said she appoints representatives to the transit board each February; the council approved the appointment.

Conard said she has no intention of removing Clay from the position ahead of the normal schedule, but that the council could decide otherwise.

Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson said change is coming to the board of commissioners Nov. 4 no matter what. Whichever commissioner candidate wins next week will replace Vaughan, who was appointed this summer, as soon as the election is certified.

Johnson said she intends to ask to serve on the Island Transit board, but need at least one additional vote.

Regular committee and board assignments are made at the beginning of the year. Johnson said it would be foolish to replace Price Johnson now.

The three commissioners serve on a total of 23 committees and boards, Johnson said, adding the top priority is the county’s budget. Board members should be asking questions and digging in, but they ultimately have to rely on the information they receive, Johnson said.

“It’s easy to sit on the outside and criticize them for not knowing,” she said.

“From the inside, I have to say it’s easy not to know.”