By Renata Clo | Arizona Republic
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio says he plans on running for mayor of Fountain Hills.
Joe Arpaio lost his bid to regain the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in 2020, but announced on Tuesday he plans to run for mayor of Fountain Hills in 2022.
The announcement said Arpaio would focus on attracting new businesses to the city of some 25,000 residents northeast of Phoenix while continuing to fight against illegal immigration, human smuggling and drug trafficking. He also will try to reduce taxes, regulations and increase tourism, according to the announcement.
Arpaio was the county’s sheriff for 24 years, which were marked by controversy, mostly surrounding immigration and high-profile incidents thacost millions in taxpayers’ dollars. He lost to Democrat Paul Penzone in 2016.
A year later, Arpaio was found guilty of criminal contempt of court for flouting a federal judge’s orders to halt his department’s signature immigration roundups. Before he was sentenced, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Arpaio.
Arpaio has tried to make his way back into public office, but his campaigns for Senate in 2018 and for sheriff in 2020 died in the Republican primary.
