Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a hard-liner on immigration, ended speculation today and announced he will not run for Arizona governor.
“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,” Arpaio said in a press release.
“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 added.
Arpaio, who is most famous for his controversial immigration tactics, is the subject of a federal grand jury probe investigating whether he used his authority to retaliate against political opponents.
A poll released last week showed that Arpaio would take the lead in a Republican primary over current Gov. Jan Brewer if he decided to run.
The press release also includes disappointed quotes from the sheriff’s wife, Ava: “His level of experience and knowledge … 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.”
In the release, Arpaio announced that his campaign for re-election as sheriff in 2012 has received $2.3 million in contributions “from literally every state in the Union.”
