What's your view? Click here to add your comment to this story.

COLUMBIA -- The chairman of the state Department of Transportation on Thursday told executive director Elizabeth Mabry he would ask her to step down if he had the authority, repeating publicly what he told privately last year.

The comment came as a frustrated commission grappled with the giant agency's direction in the face of what is likely to be a critical management audit.

Thursday marked the first time the seven-member board publicly debated DOT's leadership and the aftershocks of a Legislative Audit Council report expected next month.

Mabry told Hooper he should be proud of the agency and that any criticism shouldn't be confined to her administration.

Advertisement

"Maybe we do have a leadership problem," she said. "And it may just not be on my part, but it may be on your part, too, Mr. Chairman."

The debate came when commissioners proposed a resolution to the state Legislature declaring a "transportation funding crisis" and seeking more money.

Hooper and Commissioner John Hardee of Columbia refused to sign the resolution, setting off the debate.

Hooper, appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford, alleged mismanagement in a letter sent privately to Mabry. He said in the February 2005 letter that if he had the authority he would ask her to step down.

Mabry said this summer DOT needs an increase in its annual funding of $1 billion over the next decade.