Director of DOT accuses chairman of sabotage

Mabry says Hooper wants agency under governor's control

The Associated Press

COLUMBIA - The director of the state Transportation Department has written an opinion piece accusing state Transportation Commission Chairman Tee Hooper of trying to destroy the agency's reputation so the governor could take it over.

Hooper told Elizabeth Mabry at a board meeting earlier this month that he would ask her to resign if he had the authority.

Mabry fired back in the opinion article published this week, accusing Hooper of doing the bidding of Gov. Mark Sanford, who appointed him three years ago.

"It is now clear that the mission was to put the agency under the control of the governor." Mabry wrote. "Mr. Hooper's strategy: Destroy the reputation of SCDOT."

It's "disingenuous" of Mabry to blame Hooper for the agency's problems, said Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer, who said the governor has always been open about wanting to make the DOT part of his Cabinet.

Mabry also attacked Hooper, writing that he was "well suited to wreck the career efforts of hardworking people" because he served on the board of directors of HomeGold, parent company of Carolina Investors.

More than 8,000 people lost more than $275 million in the collapse of Carolina Investors, Inc.

Hooper said Mabry's comments are "a last ditch-effort by Betty to shift the focus away from the operational performance."

The Legislative Audit Council is expected to release a report on the DOT before the end of the year.