Valley Metro has hired former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith as its interim chief executive.
Former Valley Metro CEO Stephen Banta resigned in November after published reports that found he incurred thousands of dollars in questionable expenses paid with public funds.
The Arizona Attorney General's Office is investigating and Phoenix has launched an audit of travel and employee expenses that should be completed soon.
Smith will take over Feb. 1 and says he could serve a few months or up to a year until a permanent chief executive is found.
He was Mesa's mayor from 2008 to 2014.
