DETROIT (WXYZ) - Compuware chairman Peter Karmanos is defending the decision to hire former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to work at one of his company's subsidiaries.
ALICIA SMITH REPORTS IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ON THE RIGHTSpeaking on 760 WJR's Paul W. Smith show, Karmanos says the decision to hire Kilpatrick is a good business decision. He also says that if Kilpatrick gets into any more trouble, he will be terminated. Karmanos says he told Kilpatrick "if another shoe drops, you understand you are not working here."
Kilpatrick is expected to be working in Dallas for Covisint, a Compuware affiliate connected to the health care industry. Karmanos says Kilpatrick's job would be in sales, and that he would be working with federal, state and local governments to help them handle their health care electronically. The job pays a base salary and commissions. Karmanos also says that Kilpatrick will have six months to a year to prove he belongs in the position.
However, in order to accept the job, Kilpatrick must get permission from the court to transfer his probation.A court hearing on transferring his probation has been scheduled for February 24.
Kilpatrick is on probation for the next five years as part of his plea agreement. He also owes the city of Detroit $1 million is restitution.
Karmanos told Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson back in October that he intended to offer Kilpatrick a job. That's a month after Kilpatrick agreed to the plea deal, and the same month he began his 4-month jail sentence. However, Karmanos says he would not have hired Kilpatrick if his staff did not support the decision.
