It’s Official: Arpaio is NOT running for Governor

PHOENIX, AZ – After months of mulling over a run for Arizona’s highest office, Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona decided today that continuing to serve as the county’s top law enforcement officer is in the best interests of the county and his constituents.

“I am humbled by the encouragement and outpouring of support for me to run for Governor. However, at the same time, so many have supported my campaign for re-election that I do not want to betray them by running for another office. I have come so far and accomplished so much in the past 18 years as Sheriff that to leave now just doesn’t make sense,” said Arpaio. “Right now, we are standing in the cross-hairs of

history in this state and as Sheriff of the most populous county in Arizona, there is much work yet to do.”

He continued, “I feel that I owe it to the people of Maricopa County, my hard-working employees and others who believe in my office’s policies to continue as their Sheriff. To leave this office open to appointment by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors of an interim Sheriff may very well put us on a path that would be extremely displeasing to the voters of this county.”

Arpaio has turned down the chance to run for Governor of Arizona several times before but the decision this time was infinitely more difficult. Ava, his wife of 53 years, was very vocal about wanting him to cap off his illustrious career as governor of the state of Arizona.

“His level of experience and knowledge given to him by almost 50 years in the international, federal and county government arenas would have made Joe a great governor. And this is a time when Arizona really needs a strong, decisive leader in that position. But I respect Joe’s decision to remain Sheriff,” Ava said.

Arpaio’s campaign committee, Re-Elect Joe Arpaio 2012, is still receiving contributions from literally every state in the Union but the vast majority of contributions are coming from residents of Maricopa County and other counties in Arizona.

The campaign announced in March of this year that it had reached its goal of $2 million. Today contributions are looming at $2.3 million.

Arpaio credits this truly remarkable level of support to his get-tough policies on crime, the operation of his jails including Tent City and his determination to continue enforcing the state and federal illegal immigration laws.