Former Mayor Kilpatrick defies economic trends

Introduction

On Tuesday, Detroit-based Compuware Corporation announced it was laying off 250 employees. On Thursday, it became clear where some of that money would be going — to pay the salary of Compuware’s newest employee, Kwame Kilpatrick. Kilpatrick is the disgraced former mayor of Detroit who served 99 days in jail for obstruction of justice.

Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos had already indicated as far back as October that he was interested in hiring Kilpatrick when he was released from prison. Another case of having friends in high places, right?

Well, maybe not. As it turns out, Karmanos and Compuware have been friends of Kilpatrick for quite a while. As The Detroit News reports, Karmanos has donated extensively to Kwame in the past, including “$100,000 to Kilpatrick’s Generations political action committee in October 2005, the single largest donation.”

Also interesting? Since 2000 Compuware Corporation employees have donated $16,350 in campaign contributions to Kilpatrick’s mother, Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That includes $4,100 since 2007.

No word yet on what Kwame Kilpatrick’s work assignment will be.