Pinholster Resigns From DOT Board

(6/20/08) Garland Pinholster resigned Thursday from the state Board of Transportation, two months after stepping down as chairman amid news reports he was the subject of an harassment claim filed by DOT employees.

In a letter delivered Thursday to Chairman Bill Kuhlke, Pinholster said, “I hereby submit my resignation from the Georgia State Transportation Board effective this date.”

The term was due to expire next year, but an election will have to be held between now and then to elect an interim board member. Members of the board are chosen from congressional districts by caucuses of legislators whose own districts lie within the congressional lines. Pinholster represented the 6th congressional district.

Pinholster formerly served in the Legislature for more than 10 years and at one point was chairman of the House Republican Caucus.

Lawmakers already have had to fill one vacancy this year as a result of Mike Evans' decision to resign in order to persue a relationship with DOT Commissioner Gene Abraham. Evans was chairman at the time. Pinholster succeeded him as chairman on an interim basis, but stepped down a week later following the news reports.