CHARLESTON - The state Transportation Commission chairman has called for the agency's director to resign because of financial and employee morale concerns.

But Transportation Department head Elizabeth Mabry, who has held the post for eight years, called some of the claims "unsubstantiated and false," and said it's not uncommon to find employees with low morale in an agency with 5,000 workers.

Commission chairman Tee Hooper, who was appointed by Gov. Mark Sanford two years ago, sent a letter to Mabry on Feb. 17 saying agency workers had complained to him about several issues recently.

He said the employees claimed several Chevrolet Tahoes had been bought, given to high-level employees for personal use and had private license tags instead of state tags.

Other employees told Hooper that the recent departure of two high-level employees prompted them to question whether they had been "pushed out" for expressing unpopular opinions.

"I know you have a lot of support from many legislators and several commissioners," Hooper wrote in a letter obtained by The (Charleston) Post and Courier. "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."

Mabry said it was "extremely offensive" that Hooper suggested employees were using work vehicles for personal use. She also said Hooper's financial concerns reflect his inexperience.

Hooper wrote that the agency had failed to claim $145 million in federal money that it was entitled in January, but Mabry said the agency draws money from the federal government only when it needs funding.

Sanford's spokesman, Will Folks, said the governor has encouraged all his appointees to take a closer look at agencies.