The board of the Georgia Department of Transportation voted 8-3 to reprimand Abraham for failing to report her relationship with board chairman Mike Evans in a timely fashion. Evans resigned last week to date Abraham. DOT policy bans intimate relationships in the direct chain of command. The board oversees the commissioner.

Board member David Doss of Rome voted with the minority, saying he wanted to put her on probation for six months and slash her $175,000-a-year salary by 25 percent. His proposal died without a second.

Monday’s action came after the board met behind closed doors for three hours about Abraham, Gov. Sonny Perdue’s handpicked choice to the lead the troubled department. Dana Lemon put forward a motion to oust Abraham. That motion was not seconded.

“I respect the authority of the board and the decision that they made today completely,” Abraham said at a news conference on Monday.

Abraham, making her first public comments since news of the DOT romance broke, said the relationship with Evans was “a very recent development.”

“I want to take the opportunity to set the record straight, right up front. Chairman Evans and I were not dating at any point in time near his election, near my election. That did not happen,” she said.

On Friday, Perdue and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle expressed confidence in Abraham, who has been on the job just five months after a hard-fought election victory in October against state Rep. Vance Smith. The election became a test of wills between Perdue and House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who was backing Smith. Abraham eked out a win by a 7-6 board vote. Evans voted for her.

Perdue said Abraham remains the right person to straighten out the department. An internal audit has found the DOT has promised $1 billion in projects it cannot deliver. An outside auditor is being brought in to scour the department’s books.

Board member William Kuhlke said Monday the board is concerned because Abraham and Evans told

Board Vice Chairman Garland Pinholster about their romantic feelings but then waited another two weeks to tell the board. Even then, it was another board member who called the executive session to discuss the matter.

“She should’ve gotten back to the board sooner,” Kuhlke said. But he said he believed Abraham could still be effective in turning the department around.

“My personal opinion is she’s the right person for the job,” he said.

Doss said he has concerns with Abraham’s credibility with DOT staffers. As recently as March 31 she issued a letter to employees discussing standards of conduct. Doss said the timing of that letter and the revelation of her relationship with Evans may have DOT staffers questioning her authority.

In another development adding to the chaos at the DOT, a sexual harassment complaint has been filed against Pinholster, who had been serving as acting board chairman after Evans stepped down last week.

On Monday, Pinholster resigned the chairmanship — which he had assumed last Thursday. He made no mention of the complaint and said since he is not running for his seat again it made sense to select someone who could provide continuity in the leadership post. He participated in the meeting by speaker phone. Attempts to reach him Monday were not successful.

Kuhlke confirmed the existence of the complaint, speaking to reporters after Monday’s meeting, but would not provide specifics.