An accounting contractor who worked for the Island County auditor is challenging her former boss in November’s general election.

Independent candidate Rebecca Wagner, who worked in the Auditor’s Office for five months in 2011 and three months in 2012, is questioning the performance of Island County Auditor Sheilah Crider.

“When Sheilah was running unopposed, I decided I could do a better job,” Wagner said in a Wednesday interview. “I think Sheilah’s a nice person probably, but I just don’t think she engages with her people.”

Crider said she has succeeded in her role over two terms despite going through a period of economic turmoil and the resulting budget cuts.

“I have taken the Island County Auditor’s Office through the darkest of times, through the deepest global recession we could have, and my office was reduced some 36 percent,” Crider said. “You don’t do that without the experience and a capability and the knowledge to help pull your staff together and get them through that time.”

Island County was cited by the State Auditor’s Office for “significant deficiencies” in its financial reporting last week. Among other issues, the state auditor found that a complete turnover in accounting staff in the last year contributed to the errors.

Crider said her department is “regrettably part of a good-news story” where her people have been able to move onto better-paying jobs within the county. In addition, two accounting staff members moved out of state.

However, based on her observations while contracting in the office, Wagner said the turnover is “because there’s dissatisfaction” in the Auditor’s Office.

“It’s a sad situation. Honestly, I just couldn’t not run,” Wagner said.

As a result of the finding, the state auditor has recommended increased training and oversight in the Auditor’s Office. Crider said her replacement accounting staff has the experience and work ethic to bring the county’s financial reporting on track.

“The training, quite candidly, is something that comes from experience; it’s not an overnight thing,” Crider said. “You need to be able to have time in the position to do the work, and we have folks in place now who can learn the work and are competent and very capable. They are committed to the positions they are in.”

Having worked specifically on financial statements both in Skagit and Island counties, Wagner said she could do a better job of reviewing the documents for accuracy.

Wagner also described Crider’s management style as somewhat impersonal compared to the Skagit County auditor who would “walk through and say hello to everybody.”

“She just acknowledged that the people in her office were there,” Wagner said. “Sheilah would come in well after everyone else and go into her office and didn’t say hello. I just personally think that makes a huge difference in how people feel about where they work.”

During her tenure, Crider has initiated new programs like e-Recording, a Quick Title program and accepting debit cards at Department of Licensing offices.

Wagner said there are even more technological efficiencies that the auditor could implement, but Crider said that budgetary constraints have made it difficult.

“We continue to ask for additional funds to implement new processes and we’ve lived within the budgetary constraints and done everything that we could,” Crider said. “Does it mean we don’t have other ideas? Absolutely not.”

Despite staffing and budgetary cuts in recent years, Crider said not a single payroll has been missed in her nearly two terms as auditor.

Still, Wagner characterized the county’s payroll system as a “mess” and something that would be a top priority for her to fix if elected.

In the end, Wagner said her CPA and background in accounting would be a much-needed asset to the county.

“I’ve got so much experience in finance and accounting. I’ve got so much experience managing people. I live in Coupeville. I would love to have a government job because of the pension,” Wagner said. “I’m familiar with some of the key people, and I believe we could word well together and get things turned around. This is sort of a culmination of my whole career. … It brings it all together and I can use all my skills and abilities.”

Crider said that her several years’ experience as auditor gives her the breadth of knowledge needed to complete the duties of the position.

“I bring experience. I bring a commitment to the staff and to the county family,” Crider said. “If there is an issue, I know how to reach out and act as a functioning partner with all of my colleagues on the county campus. We are a-political, we all work together and we all know what we do is the business of the people.”