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Falcons fly into playoffs See...A8
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014 | Vol. 90, No. 86 | www.SOUTHWHIDBEYRECORD.com | 75¢
Oak Harbor mayor rallies for resignation of transit directors By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record
shortfalls that have been identified and moving forward,” she said. She said the board has the opportunity to build a stronger agency. Likewise, Langley Councilman Jim Sundberg said the agency is back on the path to sustainability and will have a reserve balance of
Scott Dudley is taking his show on the road. Oak Harbor’s fired-up mayor is bringing his criticism of Island Transit’s board of directors 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 transit 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.” Currently, Coupeville Councilman Bob Clay is the chairman of the tran-
SEE CAMPBELL, A13
SEE DUDLEY, A13
Ben Watanabe / The Record
Leo Langer, a maintenance worker at South Whidbey Elementary School, put his facial hair up for judgment at the World Beard and Moustache Championships on Oct. 25 in Portland.
Wild beards can’t be broken Moustachioed man takes 10-inch facial hair to show
By BEN WATANABE South Whidbey Record Leo Langer almost ha his shot at facial hair infamy. The 43-year-old South Whidbey custodian at South Whidbey Elementary School took his untamed beard and face-width mustache to the
World Beard & Moustache Championships in Portland, Ore., over the weekend. While lots of competitors went full-tilt with their outfits and facial hair, Langer opted for the au natural look, and passed on adding even a spritz of hair spray or a drop of gel. “It was easy being lazy,” Langer said.
The single dad, a former longtime assistant coach of the Falcon football team, has more hair below his eyebrows than above these days. But what’s lost in one spot is more than made up for from the end of his nose to almost 10 inches SEE BEARD, A11
Transit board member quits, urges others to follow suit By JESSIE STENSLAND South Whidbey Record Jim Campbell resigned from the embattled Island Transit board last week and urged his colleagues to follow suit. The Oak Harbor councilman was on vacation for about six weeks and missed the drama of Martha Rose leaving as director, as well as the
tussles between board members and Campbell’s temporary replacement, Oak Harbor Mayor Scott Dudley. Sweeping change on the Island Transit board seems unlikely, however. Board members are in the midst of searching for an interim director as the chairman of the board, Bob Clay, spends his days at Island Transit as the acting director.
Clay said this week that he has no intention of resigning. “I’m appointed by the Coupeville Town Council and the Coupeville mayor,” he said. “The Oak Harbor council has no say in who represents Coupeville.” Island County Commissioner Helen Price Johnson said she’s not quitting the board. “I’m planning on addressing the