Sheriff Joe recall

Sheriff Joe recall, A group trying to oust the polarizing sheriff of metropolitan Phoenix faces a Thursday deadline for handing in voter signatures in an uphill battle to force a recall election against the lawman.

Organizers of the recall effort against Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio face long odds in turning in the more than 335,000 valid voter signatures required by the 4 p.m. deadline. They have struggled to raise funds, have had to rely on a mostly volunteer workforce to collect signatures and are mounting a campaign against a politician who has a base of devoted supporters.

Arpaio should be booted, they say, because his office has failed to adequately investigate more than 400 sex-crimes cases, has cost the county $25 million in legal settlements over treatment in county jails and his office was found by a federal judge to have systematically racially profiled Latinos in his signature immigration patrols. Critics say the sheriff is more focused on getting publicity for himself than protecting the people.

“We can’t allow the sheriff to stay in office four more years,” said recall campaign manager Lilia Alvarez. “Why should taxpayers continue to pay his salary, his benefits?”

The recall group said more backers have come forward since the racial profiling decision was handed down on Friday. Supporters have been camped outside a county building since Sunday in their final push.

In the hours before the recall petitions were due, a trickle of people dropped by three tents set up by recall organizers outside the county building to sign petitions. Clipboard-wielding volunteers hit up people walking on the sidewalk for signatures and wore T-shirts that said, “Petition Posse,” a play on Arpaio’s posses whose volunteer members assist sheriff’s deputies in some of their duties.

Recall volunteers had set up a boot-shaped sign that read “Give Arpaio The” and a huge banner, strung between two light poles, that said, “Judge Rules Arpaio Is Racist! Latinos suffer!”

Arpaio supporters say the sheriff won re-election fair and square and that recall organizers shouldn’t be allowed to contest the election simply because they don’t like the outcome. The sheriff, whose campaign coffers were depleted after spending more than $8 million during the last election cycle, has cited the recall effort in recent fundraising efforts.

Sheriff Joe recall 2013-05-30T14:51:00-07:00 Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: My Videos Tube