The goal is to reach 335,317 signatures by May 30, but the group attempting to recall “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” announced May 16 it is out of money to pay the signature gatherers. As such, the group will rely on volunteers to collect the remainder of the registered-voter signatures required to force an election.
The group, known as Respect Arizona, is trying to oust 80-year-old Maricopa County
Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona, who recently won his sixth consecutive term in November in one of the closest races he’s ever faced – just 80,000 votes over former Phoenix police Sgt. Paul Penzone despite an $8 million media campaign bankrolled by out-of-area interests. That close race prompted the recall attempt since Arpaio appeared vulnerable - and after a citizens campaign recently led to the recall of state Senate President Russell Pearce, the architect of Arizona's controversial SB 1070 “show me your papers” immigration law.
Arpaio, known as the anti-immigration sheriff, made national headlines since 1993 with chain gangs. He fought several lawsuits alleging violations of civil rights and the misuse of government funds. Most recently, Arpaio armed his deputies with automatic weapons to prevent “illegals” from escaping his tent cities, and recruited actor Steven Segal to train vigilantes for patrols.
Recently national attitudes toward immigration saw major changes and last June the Supreme Court handed down a 5-3 decision striking down three key provisions of Arizona’s SB 1070 anti-immigration law, effectively killing the provision requiring law enforcement to determine the immigration status of anyone they have a “reasonable suspicion” of and may be in the country illegally.
“We have seen it all – from un-investigated sex crimes to million dollar payouts to judges, elected officials, county employees, and citizens harassed, arrested, and detained to the mismanagement of hundreds of millions of dollars. The case against Arpaio is disgraceful,” said Chris Ford, Legal Counsel for Respect Arizona in a written statement.
But Respect Arizona campaign organizers say that financial donors who originally signed up to fund the final signature drive to force a new election disappeared due to the lack of a feasible candidate to defeat Sheriff Arpaio.
The group has not released any recent numbers, but in late April, they stated they collected 200,359 signatures.