New chief of N.C. ferry system rose through the ranks

Working his way up from ferry crew member, Harold Thomas was named Friday as director of the North Carolina Ferry Division.

As assistant chief of operations, Thomas led emergency ferry operations to the Outer Banks and other places after Hurricane Irene, said Sue Johnson, spokeswoman for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Thomas began with the Ferry Division as a crew member in 1994 at the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route, Johnson said. He was promoted to oiler and then chief engineer.

Thomas takes the position following Harold "Buddy" Finch, who was fired as chief last year after two months on the job. Finch was a retired Coast Guard officer who soon after taking the job reported widespread waste and nepotism. He was fired, the department said, for alienating staff and not meeting division goals.

An audit, released in July, recommended changes to reduce overtime costs and found that 13 employees worked under or with relatives, a violation of state rules. But there were no findings of criminal activity.

Finch filed suit against the state in September 2010, citing wrongful termination. The case is still pending.

In 2006, former Ferry Division chief Jerry Gaskill resigned after he was indicted for his involvement in illegal dredging of the Currituck Sound to make way for a new passenger-only ferry from Corolla to the Currituck County mainland.

Jeff Hampton (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com