No Retirement for Diaz?

So, after Bad Larry Buffington appointed his buddy Oliver Diaz to a position in Simpson County that didn't need filling, just so Diaz could get his state retirement, it turns out that Diaz won't qualify! At least, thats what PERS told the Clarion Ledger.

Buffington last month ordered that Diaz be hired at $400 per month, plus retirement.

Diaz acknowledged last month he thought the work would go toward his state retirement. Buffington said in the previous interview that Diaz, who lost a Supreme Court re-election bid last year, told him he needed one more year of employment to qualify for the state retirement system.

Pat Robertson, director of the state Public Employee Retirement System, said Wednesday she couldn't speak specifically about Diaz's employment. But she said rules and regulations of PERS requires a person to work at least 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month as a part-time public employee to qualify for the state retirement system.
The office sent a letter to the county, informing officials of that.

"If Justice Diaz will not work at least 80 hours per month and his earnings are less than one-half of the normal compensation for a full-time public defender, he is not eligible for coverage and his earnings as a less than half-time public defender should not be reported to PERS," Deputy Director Shirley Sessoms said in the letter.

Youth Court meets once a month in Simpson County.

Diaz said Wednesday his employment was never about the state retirement system. He said he made a commitment to Buffington to perform the job for a year and he plans to fulfill that obligation.

Oh what a tangled web we weave...now Bad Larry Buffington has exposed himself, Oliver Diaz has to do a job in Simpson County PLUS he has to find some other job that will qualify for his retirement.