The head of South Carolina’s Department of Transportation survived an attempted ouster Thursday and pledged she would not resign the post.

The monthly transportation commission meeting turned into a public critique of executive director Elizabeth Mabry and DOT, as commissioners questioned a request for more state money with a looming agency audit due next month.

Commission chairman Tee Hooper of Greenville urged Mabry to step down in the interest of taxpayers and her own health.

“If it was my call, Betty, I’d ask you to resign,” he said.

Mabry fired back, saying that while she may have leadership issues, “maybe it’s on your part, too, Mr. Chairman.”

The commission sets priorities and policies for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of state and federal road and bridge projects each year. Hooper was appointed chairman by Republican Gov. Mark Sanford, who wants DOT to become a Cabinet agency.

After several hours in two closed-door sessions, the commission took no vote on Mabry. Hooper said he believed a majority of the commission supported removing Mabry.

“They would have voted it today if that was the case,” she said after the meeting. “I believe that is what the chairman wanted to happen today.”

One of the seven commissioners, Robert Harrell Sr. of Charleston, was not present.

Mabry has been the director of the 5,000-employee agency for 10 years.

Hooper and others have been critical of department policies, including awarding contracts, purchasing state-owned four-wheel drive vehicles, and whether the agency head should answer directly to the governor. Lawmakers have asked the Legislative Audit Council to examine the agency.

The council has sent Mabry and commissioners a draft of the audit and agreed to revise the report based on the DOT response. The final report is expected next month.

Hooper said agency efforts responding to and downplaying the audit have been distracting employees from their work.

“I think that it’s going to get worse before it gets better as to what happens after the audit comes out,” Hooper said. “When that audit comes out, it’s going to be the headline at probably every newspaper in the state.”

Four commissioners present defended the department, some praising Mabry.

“I believe it’s high time for this commission to step forward ... for the accomplishments of this agency,” said commissioner Marion Carnell of Ware Shoals.

Mabry said her agency has performed as directed by the commission.

“The employees feel that they are being criticized. They (the commissioners) should give us guidance,” she said. “The commission system works if it is allowed to.”

Reach O’Connor at (803) 771-8358.