Joe Arpaio

TEMPE -- The Changing Hands bookstore witnessed the first in planned series of debates between Democratic Maricopa County attorney hopefuls Tim Nelson and Gerald Richard, who are competing in a primary to take on incumbent Andrew Thomas. 

Before a crowd of about 80, many of whom literally wore their allegiances to one candidate or the other on their sleeves (yellow shirts for Richard, navy for Nelson), Nelson and Richard debated experience - both claiming the edge in prosecutorial expertise - but generally agreed in their critiques of Thomas and the problem areas they wish to address. After the debate, both spoke about how they would deal with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose policies starkly differ from those proposed by both Democratic candidates.

Richard and Nelson spoke in unison on the need to reduce funding to things like billboards, which both candidates labelled "self-promotion" when done by Andrew Thomas, whose name often prominently appears on anti-drunk driving advertisements. Overall both said that "fiscal responsibility" needed to be restored at the county attorney's office. They also took Thomas to task over the low morale at the office, and vowed to treat deputy county attorneys with respect.

This weeks Winners & Losers is a day early because we know you won't want to leave on vacation until you have read it.

Dan Saban: Campaign photoIn the contest to see who can raise more money in the Maricopa County sheriff faceoff, it’s no contest. Joe Arpaio wins hands down. If the money hunt was an actual race, Arpaio would have lapped opponent Dan Saban close to nine times by now.

As of June 1, Arpaio had raised in excess of $430k for his election bid, and began the second part of the year with $358,357 in the bank. In the first five months of 2008 alone Arpaio raised a whopping $121,127 – more than many serious congressional candidates can manage.

By contrast, Saban, who ran against Arpaio in the 2004 Republican primary and has returned as a Democrat to take another shot at him this year, raised under $50k in the first reporting period. Though he asserts he raised $13k in June, when he “really started” his fundraising efforts, that pace still isn’t quick enough to close much ground between he and the incumbent sheriff.

According to Saban, though, that has something to do with Arpaio playing dirty.

And don't forget to vote on this week's Cartoon Caption Contest. Voting ends this Friday at noon.

Democratic candidate for Sherriff, Dan Saban, has challenged Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to seven debates from July through October. Saban is proposing the candidates meet in Anthem, Guadalupe, Sun City, Sun Lakes, Wickenburg and twice in Phoenix. Saban is giving Arpaio until July 1st to accept. If Arpaio does not accept the challenge Saban plans to have town hall meetings in the locations stated to answer questions from the voters. 

Click more to view video of Sheriff Joe lamenting the "dirty politics" that took away his illegal sweeps funding.

When Maricopa County Sheriff candidate Dan Saban submitted his qualifying signatures today, turning in over three times as many as he needed to get on the ballot, he did so without the backing of the Buckeye Police Association, which represents the officers of the police department he headed until a week ago.

Yet Saban doesn't believe BPA's endorsement of his rival, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, or for that matter the endorsement of Arpaio by the Phoenix Law Enforcement Agency, is that great a liability. For Saban, it’s a slew of other endorsements he's garnered that are far more important to his campaign, and he says he has the 8,000-plus signatures to prove it.  

The Arizona Republican Party is fuming over what it sees as Governor Janet Napolitano's latest blow to anti-illegal immigration efforts.

In an executive order signed Monday, Napolitano redirected over $1 million slated to go to Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's office for immigration enforcement. The funds will be used instead for a task force she's appointed to serve tens of thousands of outstanding warrants statewide.

Coupled with her veto of a bill that would have enabled county and municipal law enforcement agencies to have greater cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Arizona Republican Party is making its displeasure known, and accusing the governor of refusing to enforce laws and obstructing Sheriff Arpaio's efforts.

The question, though, is how far are frustrated Republicans willing to go to stop Gov. Napolitano?    

Democrat candidate for Maricopa County Sheriff, Dan Saban, will submit more than 8,000 signatures tomorrow.  2,480 valid signatures are required by June 4th for Saban to obtain ballot status against Sheriff Joe Arpio.