On the county Web site, Fulton Superior Court Clerk Cathelene Robinson says her motto is: "Treat people as you would like to be treated."

Judging by the sweetheart deal she gave her former boss Juanita Hicks, Robinson likes to be treated very well.

Facing a $2.5 million lawsuit by an inmate accusing her of gross incompetence, Hicks retired abruptly a year ago, with 22 months of her elected term yet to complete. Before she quit, Hicks handpicked her protégé Robinson to serve out the rest of her term at an annual salary of $143,000.

(Calvin T. McGee alleges in a pending lawsuit that he remained in prison 22 months after his sentence was served because Hicks' office failed to send the paperwork to the Department of Corrections. At least one other lawsuit involving Hicks has been settled; in October, the county agreed to pay $210,000 to a former employee of Hicks who alleged that she harassed and forced him out of his job after he supported a political opponent.)

Robinson, her successor, quickly repaid the favor, hiring Hicks at $55 an hour to consult and to write a history of the clerk's office. Under the cozy agreement between the pals, Hicks worked without stated job goals or deadlines and showed up when she wanted, if at all. Staff in the clerk's office said Hicks wasn't required to sign in for work, though her time slips showed her working in the evening and late at night.

And for that, Hicks raked in $74,000 — on top of a $105,588 yearly pension from the county.

So what did Fulton residents get for their money? Nothing.

Unfortunately, the rewarding of political allies with cushy jobs occurs at every level of government. State agencies are rife with former legislators in top jobs. But usually, the folks at least show up and do something for their inflated salaries.

An open records request from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed that Hicks left no written work to show for her 10 months on the payroll. Robinson did not produce any memos, e-mails, documents or correspondence to demonstrate that Hicks did anything except collect a hefty paycheck.

And now Robinson wants voters to give her four more years as clerk in the November elections. Why would Fulton residents choose to enable four more years of blatant cronyism and flagrant misspending of their money?

The only thing Fulton voters should give Robinson in November is the boot. They could try earlier by launching a recall petition, but it would be neater and easier to get rid of Robinson via the ballot box in the fall.

But to do so, voters have to have alternatives. Candidates have to rise up to challenge Robinson. Her unethical conduct should not be rewarded with an uncontested bid for the job. In addition, somebody in the county ought to file an ethics complaint against Robinson with the Fulton County Board of Ethics.

Fulton County commissioners contend that their hands are tied in this mess because the clerk's an elected, constitutional officer. However, they control the office's budget and can vent their displeasure through those purse strings and through frequent and public condemnations of Robinson.

— Maureen Downey, for the editorial board