Kilpatrick, Cockrel meet on transition

DETROIT, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Incoming Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel says he had a "productive" meeting Monday with current Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to discuss the transition of city power.

Cockrel, the Detroit City Council president, said the meeting was called to discuss the upcoming transition as Kilpatrick, who resigned last week after pleading guilty to corruption charges, prepares to serve a jail sentence, the Detroit Free Press reported.

Emerging from the meeting, Cockrel told reporters, "It was a very good meeting. I thought it was a very productive meeting," adding that it lasted about 90 minutes, 20 of which he spent talking privately with Kilpatrick.

Cockrel will officially take office as Detroit's interim mayor Sept. 19, officials said. Sharon McPhail, Kilpatrick's former general counsel, announced she will chair his transition team until Cockrel takes over as mayor, the Free Press said.

Kilpatrick pleaded guilty last week to felony perjury charges stemming from an $8.4 million city payout to whistle-blower police officers. The settlement included a secret requirement that the officers keep quiet about incriminating Kilpatrick text messages they possessed.