Citing conspiracy against him, Arpaio seeks funds

by Political Insider - Oct. 25, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic


• Operators are standing by . . . It's been less than 11 months since he was elected to his fifth consecutive term in office, but Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is already soliciting more funds for another campaign.

In a letter Arpaio sent to supporters last week, he painstakingly lays out the left-wing conspiracy working against him - name-dropping the Rev. Al Sharpton, President Barack Obama, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, ACORN and a few media outlets. He says he's in need of financial support to fight these forces. To reiterate the threat that Sharpton poses (he's visited Phoenix twice this year and sparred with Arpaio on news shows), the letter cites the activist's name in bold-face type four times.

Arpaio brought in more than $600,000 in the previous election - a sum unheard of in county races - and finished with $67,000 on hand to roll over into his next campaign.

Arpaio contends he'll remain sheriff until he's voted out. As for the recall, although talk about such an effort was brewing late summer, no paperwork was filed in time to launch such a campaign this year.


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