Circular circulation

From The Detroit Free Press comes this interesting tale of a government job-swap:

Longtime Wayne County Probate Judge David Szymanski put in for retirement in early November, planning to leave his $140,000-a-year judgeship on Dec. 21.

On Dec. 20, Gov. Jennifer Granholm appointed deputy Wayne County Treasurer Terrance Keith to fill Szymanski’s spot on the probate bench, leaving Keith’s $145,000-a-year deputy clerk position open.

Who did Wayne County Treasurer Raymond Wojtowicz appoint?

He didn’t have to look far. He hired Szymanski.

The former judge said his judicial pension should pay him between $55,000 and $60,000 a year on top of his new salary and help him put his children through college.

“There was no quid pro quo,” Szymanski said.

Keith, who had worked for the county for about nine years, didn’t return phone calls this week seeking comment on the job switch.