One can only admire Jerry Sheridan's tenacity.
Or patience.
Sheridan, the right-hand man to longtime Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was later fired and disgraced, is making a second bid to reclaim the sheriff's office as a Republican.
He is one of the few people to openly defend the controversial immigration enforcement practices under the Arpaio administration that brought the sheriff's office under Justice Department oversight and led to federal oversight that continues to this day.
At a candidates forum in Scottsdale as recently as Friday, Sheridan argued that deputies have the right to arrest illegal immigrants under agreements with federal immigration authorities, and rejected court rulings that the department engaged in racial profiling under Arpaio.
He said at the debate: Arpaio's version of an open-air prison It's known as a tent city, which critics say is cruel.
In the end, Arpaio supported Milstead.
for that Arpaio was rewarded with support. Former Mesa Police Chief and state Department of Public Safety Commissioner Frank Milstead is sheriff.
That's what loyalty is all about.
Perhaps Arpaio just went with the flow. Support for Milstead from conservatives like former U.S. Marshal David Gonzalez, former Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio and former state Rep. Barry Wong.
Perhaps that's because Milstead, like many other Republicans, has made illegal immigration a central issue in his policy agenda.
And just as likely, Mr. Arpaio still harbors a grudge over his former deputy daring to run against him in the Republican primary for sheriff four years ago (Mr. Sheridan later lost to incumbent Democrat Paul Penzone).
Either way, Gerry Sheridan will have to overcome strong headwinds if he is to lead the party in the November general election.
That includes those he served and continues to protect.
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