Roads chief accused of taking state for a ride

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Hooper, chairman of the Transportation Commission, said in a Feb. 17 letter to Mabry that agency employees have told him that several Chevrolet Tahoes had been provided to high-level employees for personal use, The Associated Press reported.

Hooper, appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford two years ago, also questioned whether two high-level employees had been "pushed out" for expressing unpopular opinions, the AP reported.

Mabry said some of the claims were "unsubstantiated and false," and characterized the allegation of providing state vehicles for personal use as "extremely offensive," according to the AP.

The infighting between top highway officials comes at a time when South Carolina has the third-highest highway death rate in the nation, 53 percent higher than the national average, according to the Transportation Department.

The agency says it has the lowest state funding per mile of all states and needs more money to fix a maintenance crisis on secondary roads. Toward that end, the Transportation Commission has proposed slapping a $30-a-year tax on two-axle vehicles.

According to the AP, Hooper told Mabry he knew she had support from many lawmakers and several commissioners.

"I don't have the authority to ask you to step down, but if I did, as a result of the facts, I would be asking you now," Hooper wrote, according to the AP.

News of the dispute prompted some lawmakers to rally around Mabry. More than 80 House members and more than 40 senators signed a petition saying she should keep her job.

Upstate signatories included representatives Harry Cato of Travelers Rest, Lewis Vaughn of Greer and Glenn Hamilton of Taylors.

Senators Verne Smith of Greer, Ralph Anderson of Greenville, Glenn Reese of Inman and John Hawkins of Spartanburg also signed the petition.

House Speaker David Wilkins of Greenville, however, didn't sign it.

"I don't know the details of the allegations," Wilkins said Friday. "I do know I have the utmost respect for Tee Hooper."

Mabry has led the Transportation Department for eight years. The agency is responsible for managing nearly 42,000 miles of roads and 8,200 bridges.

Rep. Doug Jennings, a Marlboro Democrat who helped circulate the petition in the House, said he hadn't seen Hooper's letter, but wanted to show bipartisan support for Mabry anyway.

"I don't know anything of the substance of the reasons why (Hooper's) seeking her resignation," Jennings said Friday. "I just have the highest confidence in her and the job she's done."

Hooper, reached at his Greenville business Friday, declined comment, saying he'd promised to keep the matter private.

In Columbia, Mabry was not available, said Pete Poore, spokesman for the Transportation Department. Poore said he didn't have a copy of Hooper's letter to Mabry.

"The only people who have that memo are the seven commissioners and Ms. Mabry, officially," Poore said. "We don't have that memo. Mrs. Mabry is not here today."

William C. "Bud" Turner of Greer, the commissioner who represents Greenville, said he had hoped the dispute would have been resolved in private.

"I would hope the next step would be that we would allow Ms. Mabry to respond to each of the items that are of concern, and after that, the commissioners would have an opportunity to make a decision if there's a need to act in some way," Turner said.

Sanford spokesman Will Folks said the governor supports Hooper's decision to send the letter and "thinks it raises a number of valid concerns."

"He's always encouraged his appointments to kick the tires and look under the hood and make sure the taxpayers' best interests are being looked out for," Folks said.

Bob Harrell Sr., who represents Charleston on the Transportation Commission, said a majority of the seven commissioners support Mabry.

"If it were to come to a vote today, she would win handily," Harrell said.