By EJ Montini | Arizona Republic
(Editor’s note:Opinion pieces are published for discussion purposes only.)
I don’t believe he expects to win. He just craves the attention a campaign will bring. He’s addicted to it.
Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio cannot accept the fact that his time has come and gone.
Then again, I don’t believe that winning is why Arpaio is running again for sheriff.
His 24-year run as Maricopa County’s sheriff ended in 2016, finally, though county taxpayers have continued to pay for his arrogance and his cruel policies. An injunction against Arpaio’s racial profiling tactics have cost the county for more than $100 million for training and technology, and to compensate victims for violations of their constitutional rights.
This in addition to millions lost in lawsuits stemming from conditions in his jails.
Plus there was the criminal contempt finding against Arpaio for willfully violating a previous court order to stop the profiling practice, from which he was pardoned by President Donald Trump.
Did Joe Arpaio ever go away?
Now, after all that, and at the age of 87, Arpaio had decided to run again for his old job.
He sent out a press release Sunday reading in part, “On this day, August 25, 2019, after consultation and approval from my wife of 61 years, Ava, I have decided to run to be re-elected Sheriff. Watch out world! We are back!”
No, he’s not.
