Ex- Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick relocates to Dallas...rich neighborhood, 6 figure salary

[rainbow4321]

So he owes Detroit a million dollars in restitution, yet he relocates to one of the most expensive neighborhoods down here...and gets given a job paying at least $100,000/year, potentially could get $360,000/year..from a company that just layed off 250 workers. What is wrong with this picture?

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/022209dnmetsouthlake.45e0a68.html

Kwame Kilpatrick, who owes Detroit $1 million in restitution and is serving five years' probation, needs court approval to leave Michigan. A hearing is set for Tuesday to determine whether he can travel to Dallas for job training.

(snip)

Days after that trip, it was announced that Kilpatrick had a job with Covisint, an affiliate of Compuware. He'll earn an annual base salary of at least $100,000 and could potentially get up to $360,000, the Free Press reported.

Many Detroiters, still seething over their former mayor's actions, say they're insulted that Kilpatrick landed the job, especially as Compuware was laying off 250 workers.

Carlita Kilpatrick said critics don't have "his best interest at heart or my best interest at heart or my children's best interest at heart."

[marylanddem]

1. This is pretty outrageous.

Wonder what he's expected to do for the "consultant" job?

[rainbow4321]

9. The company owner "defended him through controversies"

May explain the job offer.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090213/METRO01/902130383/1410/METRO01

Peter Karmanos supported and defended Kwame Kilpatrick through controversies and even the spectacular scandal that forced the former mayor from office and put him behind bars for 99 days. Now, the chairman of Compuware has given Kilpatrick a job that may serve as a new start for the man and his family in Texas.

Kilpatrick will work for Covisint, an affiliate of Detroit-based Compuware that has business in the health care industry, Kilpatrick's criminal lawyer James C. Thomas confirmed on Thursday.

Karmanos told Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson of his intention to hire Kilpatrick in October while at a political fundraiser for Karmanos' wife, who was running for a seat on Wayne State University's board.

"He said, 'I am going to offer him a job when he gets out of jail,' " Patterson said Thursday. "I said he was radioactive. But he said he's a guy with immense talent and that's the kind of people he wants on his team."

[norepubsin08]

2. Kilpatrick is an asshole

but...this is what this country is supposed to be all about..once you're released you've paid your debt to society...not to mention our capitalistic system is geared to get the most you can for your labor...in addition to that, it is in Detroit's best interest to get as high a paying job as possible...If I was the court, I would garnish 49% of that salary until the debt is paid off, plus tag on interest.

[ikojo]

3. Why should Detroit residents have the Kilpatrick's

best interests at heart? Did Mr Kilpatrick REALLY care about the struggling people in Detroit? Did he have THEIR best interests
at heart?

[rainbow4321]

8. Check out some of the comments to the article

One Detroit person's comments: "Thanks for taking out our trash, Dallas".

Someone needs to set in motion a ruling that will garnish his wages for what he still owes the city. Take it directly from his paycheck before it gets to him.

They list the neighborhoods that his wife looked at: Plano, Frisco, Coppell and Grapevine. Now maybe it is just me, but if I knew that I had a chance of having to repay a million dollars, I would not be looking for a house in any of those cities..probably time to look for a more modest place in a much less expensive neighborhood.

And shopping at NorthPark ($$$) and the Galleria ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)...don't think so. May want to stick to Target or Kohl's.

You could tell she is new to TX: "She hasn't noticed any whispering, glances or glares." That's because they wait til she leaves the room. Out of curiosity, Ms Kilpatrick, how many times have you've heard "well, bless ya'lls heart" since you've been here. THAT is 200x worse than a whisper or a glare in Texas.

[lazer47]

4. Maybe he wants to live near Brush Cutter "GWB"

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Seems like the people of Detroit would be glad to see him go

and glad he isn't being paid with their tax dollars.

[rainbow4321]

13. You would think him showing no sign of remorse would make a judge tell him

He will NOT be allowed to leave the state and come down here.
Maybe if they garnish his paychecks to get back the city's million dollars he might decide to "dwell" on what he did.

From the article:

He didn't dwell much on what ended his political career in Michigan, other than saying he couldn't regret what's happened because of "how much I've grown."

[auntAgonist]

6. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Let him live and work where

ever he wants. His criminal proclivity will surface again and he'll end up in jail once more. Meanwhile, I hope his wages are garnished and every single penny he owes to Detroit (plus interest) is paid back.

[Lost in CT]

7. I feel bad for Dallas... and that takes a lot. nt

[Ikonoklast]

10. I thought for just a second that Jerry Jones hired him.

He does have a thing for criminals.

[fujiyama]

11. Dallas and its suburbs looks like an inviting place

for criminal ex-politicians from all across the political spectrum, from the top to the bottom.

Him and Bush can BFFs! Have fun Dallas!

[Urban Prairie]

12. I have seen similar things happen my entire working life

People getting promotions and jobs who were the most undeserving of anyone. My former employer promoted a co-"worker" to supervisor who could barely read, and had poor attendance as well a notoriously terrible work ethic.

I had to work for her occasionally, and it was hard to disguise my utter contempt, when she spoke to me. But I could write a book on my experiences, she is just one example. Life isn't fair.

Living in the Detroit area all of my life, I have been victimized by outsourcing, downsizing, automation, technological advances, business failures, long recessions, Republican domination in DC, and yet have never been employed directly by the domestic automakers. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure that I have been able to somehow survive here as long as I have.

I can only sympathize with those 250 employees who likely did not deserve to lose their jobs, only to see scum like Kilpatrick go from being mayor to jail to a high-paying job w/o missing a beat.