CINCINNATI - Hamilton County Sheriff Simon Leis has given businessman Santa Claus of the North Pole a job during the off-season appraising foreclosed properties in Cincinnati.  

Leis knows Mr. Claus personally as a golfing buddy, but also as a longtime campaign contributor.  Some contend that Santa's contributions were instrumental in Sheriff Leis's string of unopposed election victories.

According to Leis, Claus was the one who first inspired him to get into law enforcement.

"Santa knows when you've been good or bad so be good for goodness sakes," claims Leis, "Those words inspired me to be just like Santa, and here I am."

Some critics say that Claus is not a qualified housing appraiser, and only received the lucrative job as a kickback for all the campaign contributions, bicycles, baseball mitts and GI Joe action figures he has bestowed on Leis over the years.

"Nobody is more qualified than Santa to appraise these foreclosures," answers Leis, "He may not have a license, but he does a full roof and chimney inspection, and finished 500 appraisals on his first day.  I'd like to see a licensed appraiser work that quickly."

Santa Claus declined to comment, hanging up the phone on this reporter.