When Gena Abraham became DOT chief in December, she was seen as a tough leader who would clean house. Numerous audits in recent years had identified ongoing inefficiencies and funding shortages, including, in 2006, a $7.7 billion shortfall requiring cutting 510 projects.

The battles, financial and political, or both, continue:

File photo (ENLARGE)

Gena Abraham

File photo (ENLARGE)

Mike Evans

The Department of Transportation —Oversight by a board of 13 members, one from each Congressional District, chosen by the state lawmakers who represent those districts. —Annual budget: $2 billion, making it one of two largest departments of state government, with the University System —5,700 employees Transportation news Are stimulus road dollars being divvied up fairly?  Atlanta traffic rated 3rd worst in nation  MARTA board member gets probation for sex charge  50-50 formula means MARTA can still spend  Georgia will meet deadline for highway stimulus funds  Topic: Atlanta transportation Recent headlines: Georgia State gets grant to study school bullying  Delta flight to Atlanta diverted to Chattanooga  State Masonic group withdraws charges     • Metro and state news

Mid-December: Two weeks on the job, Abraham briefs board members about ongoing problems that include billions in funding shortfalls. She says DOT staff can't tell her how many active projects it has.

Jan. 10: Abraham says she may scrap all toll road projects and start over and she needs more DOT staff with more experience to lead multibillion-dollar negotiations with contractors.

Jan. 25: An audit is released showing irregularities in contracts with outside companies.

Feb. 1: Evans survives a bruising battle in the Legislature to keep his board seat.

Feb. 4: DOT reports a bridge inspector admitted falsifying inspection reports and was fired.

Feb. 25 A new study appears to raise questions about the efficacy of a proposal to use truck-only lanes to reduce congestion.

March 24: Abraham tells the board the department is beginning to cut: it has enough money to do 270 projects a year, but has 1,470 active and 9,000 planned projects.

April 4: Legislative session ends with victory for Gov. Sonny Perdue and lawmakers who oppose new funding for DOT, saying it needs to clean house first.

April 9: Abraham reports to the board that DOT could have a $1 billion gap between funding sources and planned projects, attributing the "preliminary" numbers to a new audit.

Gov. Sonny Perdue announces he authorized an outside audit.

GENA LESTER ABRAHAM

Age 39, lives in Sharpsburg with a son, Wil

Education: bachelor's degree in 1992 and doctorate in 2001 in civil engineering from Georgia Tech

Career

• Assistant professor, Georgia Tech School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Appointed in 2003 Construction Director of the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission

• Appointed in 2006 State Property Officer and executive director of the Georgia Building Authority

• Named in 2007 first woman Commissioner of the Department of Transportation

Source: Department of Transportation Web site

MIKE EVANS

Age 47, a developer who lives in Cumming with two daughters, Lauren and Faith

Education: Georgia State University, 1985

Political career

• Georgia House of Representatives 1993-2001

• Republican caucus leader 1995-2001

• Elected To Transportation Board: 2003

• Elected Chairman: 2006

Source: Transportation Board and Mike Evans' Web sites