Stengel told his staff at an 8:15 a.m. meeting that he likes his job too much to quit. Stengel had considered retiring by the end of the year but will now serve out his term, which ends in 2012. Stengel says, unlike many other state workers, he wouldn't have gained that much by retiring this year. Stengel has already told WHAS 11 News that he doesn't plan to seek reelection.

UPDATE: After talking with Stengel, it appears he WILL be losing a big chunk of change by not retiring before the end of the year. Stengel estimates it'll take him about two-and-a-half years of work to make up for the roughly $300,000 he'll lose in retirement benefits by sticking around past December 31st. The retirement "factor" drops after this year for most state workers.