The other day the News 21 blog looked at the future of the Department of Homeland Security, and I noted that President-elect Obama’s likely nominee to head it, Ariz. Gov. Janet Napolitano, is known in her home state as tough but moderate.
Writing in Slate today, former Arizona Republic reporter Tom Zoellner suggests the tough part, at least, is accurate, judging by Napolitano’s relationship with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office)
Perhaps the most notorious figure in Arizona politics, Arpaio is known for such stunts as conducting ICE-style raids on local businesses, operating chain gangs, housing prisoners in a “tent city,” and, most recently, raiding Mesa’s city hall in search of illegal immigrants. He is also known for the harsh conditions in his county jail, for which has been repeatedly sued.
Napolitano has been “was in a position to help curb Arpaio’s excesses,” Zoellner says:
As a U.S. attorney in 1995, she was put in charge of a Justice Department investigation into atrocious conditions in Arpaio’s “tent city.” Napolitano carried out her task with what can best be described as reluctance, going out of her way to protect Arpaio from flak almost before the probe had started. “We’re doing this with the complete cooperation of the sheriff,” she told the Associated Press. “We run a strict jail but a safe jail, and I haven’t heard from anyone who thinks that this is a bad thing.”
Napolitano did little to check Arpaio as governor either, though that is easy to explain: he supported her 2002 bid for the office, even appearing in a campaign ad. Arpaio is one of Arizona’s most popular politicians, and this is a very conservative state, so courting the Republican sheriff was a politically necessity for a Democratic gubernatorial candidate and governor.
Political necessities aside, Napolitano did veto a bill earlier this year that would have required local law enforcement to act as border agents, a role that Arpaio is already acting out. In general, she has been a moderate voice on immigration, if not on law enforcement. But the association with Arpaio will likely come up at Napolitano’s confirmation hearings. Arpaio, a genius of self-promotion, will likely be pleased.
Add New Comment
Viewing 8 Comments
Thanks. Your comment is awaiting approval by a moderator.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Do you already have an account? Log in and claim this comment.
Add New Comment