Mike Evans resigned his post on the transportation board Thursday, saying he wanted to pursue a relationship with Abraham.
Perdue said Friday he still believes Abraham, his hand-picked choice, is the best person to straighten out the troubled department. The governor was joined at a Capitol news conference by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who also expressed support.
"Oftentimes these things happen in a movie," Cagle said of the Evans-Abraham match.
DOT policy forbids an intimate relationship within the direct chain of command. The board oversees Abraham and controls things like her $175,000-a-year salary.
An outside auditor is being brought in to scour the department's books, after a preliminary internal study turned up a $1 billion shortfall.
The state Board of Transportation is set to meet Monday and could consider Abraham's fate. Abraham was elected by a narrow 7-6 vote in October. Evans was one of those who supported her and he is no longer on the board.
She was up against state Rep. Vance Smith, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, who was backed by House Speaker Glenn Richardson.
Perdue said Friday he is calling board members, telling them Abraham continues to enjoy his confidence.
Evans said Thursday that he and Abraham realized their relationship was deepening into a romantic attachment "a month or so ago." He and Abraham approached board vice chairman, Garland Pinholster, two weeks ago and the board was informed on Wednesday.
Perdue said he took Evans' account of the timetable at face value. But the governor said it is difficult to pinpoint when a romantic attachment really begins.
"As we all know as humans there is no light switch in relationships that comes on one day. It's not like that," Perdue said.
"At what point do you say there is critical mass here."
Perdue said Abraham called him Wednesday while he was in Texas and sounded "emotionally distraught," partly from putting in long days on the job.
"I think she was exhausted and I think it was exacerbated by the emotional relationship and attachment she had developed with the chairman. I think that was weighing on her," Perdue said.
When he met with her Friday morning she was back in control.
"What I saw this morning was the Gena that I knew," he said.
The department has an annual budget of $2 billion and employs nearly 5,800 people.
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On The Net:
Georgia Department of Transportation: http://www.dot.state.ga.us
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/4/209164