Arpaio To Decide Political Future May 1

Arpaio To Decide Political Future May 1
Sheriff Arpaio Says It's Now Or Never
Pat McReynolds
Reporter, KPHO.com

POSTED: 9:31 pm MST April 9, 2010
UPDATED: 4:39 am MST April 10, 2010

PHOENIX, Ariz -- Sheriff Joe Arpaio is hinting more strongly than ever at a possible run for governor again.

"Everybody around the world knows the sheriff, you know that," Arpaio said Friday in a candid radio interview on KFYI radio. "I don't need governor to get people to know who I am. People don't know who governors are, they know who the sheriff is."

Arpaio canceled his scheduled sit downs with all of the television stations, but was particularly honest on the airwaves.

"This time if I do it, it's got to be now or never," he said. "I'm a senior citizen. I've already got $2 million in the kitty. What sheriff raises $2 million?"

"It's just an issue that if I do do it, I think I can make a difference with my resume, which is a very professional resume that nobody talks about," Arpaio said. "It's not that I just put people in pink underwear. I had another life."

Arpaio has been a cop, a federal narcotics agent both here and overseas, a manager in the Drug Enforcement Agency and the head of the DEA in Arizona.

But at the age of 77, his run as sheriff of late has been wrought with controversy.

Most recently, he's faced allegations that he has abused his power to target his political enemies. Those investigation are ongoing.

"When I do something controversial, like Ive been doing for 18 years and surviving, maybe they will support me and say, you know what, if that's what he wants to do, let's give him a shot. I know I can win. Everybody knows that. I'm not trying to be egotistical. They know the sheriff will win if he runs," Arpaio said.

Arpaio said the only reason he wouldn't run is because it would force him to retire as sheriff. And his replacement would then be appointed by the board of supervisors.

http://www.kpho.com/politics/23109593/detail.html