Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu officially announced his intent to run for Congress early Wednesday morning.
Babeu intends to run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat in the newly-created District 4 - a sprawling, mostly-rural district that would include the portion of Pinal County that houses most of Apache Junction, Gold Canyon and San Tan Valley, according to the new congressional maps generated last month by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
District 4 would also include some of the more rural portions of Maricopa County to the north and west of the greater Phoenix area, along with all of Gila and La Paz counties, the vast majority of Yavapai and Mohave counties, and a large chunk of Yuma county - spanning all the way to the Arizona-California border.
Babeu said he plans to make illegal immigration, high unemployment and the federal deficit the focus of his candidacy.
"As a first responder, I'm trained to run toward dangers that others run away from. Right now, the biggest threats facing our country are from Washington," Babeu said in released statement. "We have record debt and deficit spending, the biggest intergenerational theft in the history of the world. We have a system that punishes job creators and leaves many millions unemployed. We have an unsecured border that allows the drug cartels to operate freely in our country, and results in 400,000 illegal crossings into our state every year.
"How have our leaders responded to these threats? This Congress approved the largest debt ceiling increase in American history. The administration transferred 2,000 high-powered weapons to the most dangerous criminals in North America, punishing whistleblowers and rewarding those responsible for ‘Fast and Furious.' Then they sued Arizona for doing the job they won't do. While Americans watch their savings disappear, we have credible allegations of insider trading by members of Congress."
Babeu, who announced the forming of an exploratory committee to run for the office in October, was elected in 2008 as Pinal County's first Republican sheriff. His ties to the party have not wavered since. He's been a fixture at tea party- and Republican-based events throughout the county and state and on the national TV circuit, appearing periodically on cable news outlets to discuss the rampant illegal immigration and smuggling corridor he says exists in Pinal County.
Prior to his post in Pinal, Babeu was a police officer in Chandler, and served as president of the Chandler police officer's association.
Babeu was named the 2011 National Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriff's Association.
Republican State Sen. Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City is exploring a possible candidacy for the 4th District seat.
Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar also may run for the 4th District seat inside of the adjacent 1st Congressional District that includes his current home in Flagstaff.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 7:45 am on Wed, Jan 4, 2012.
Thank you....thank you....thank you, Gawd.
Folks, we have a real, 100%, All-American, Patriotic, Retired Military Officer, 2011 America's Best Sheriff.....and a true Republican with a Capital "R".......running for Congress.
I hope that I live long enough to see a "President" Paul Babeu taking the Oath of Office on the Capital steps.
Dale Whiting posted at 8:55 am on Wed, Jan 4, 2012.
Yes, Paul, go to Congress and there help John McCain build that "Dang fense." As a public works project, we can use the work. And funding it as a part of President Obama's program to rebuild infractructure would seem to make sense. Don't you agree?
mwmike posted at 9:49 am on Wed, Jan 4, 2012.
Good. The Obama landslide in 2012 will bring down both of our racist, corrupt, egotistical, county sheriffs. Vote Democratic in 2012!
GrayGrantham posted at 10:01 am on Wed, Jan 4, 2012.
Going from Pinal County Sheriff to Congress will be like Luke Sky Walker going over to the Dark Side of the Force.
Congress is not an institution of reform. It is an institution of corruption and bribery. Sheriff Babeu will no doubt become very wealthy, but he will need to change his tune. There won't be any meaningful reform, he will be receiving tons of money from special interest and the "Illegal Immigration" problem, will never be fixed until we hold a constitutional convention that does away with the current federal government and replaces it with one that is responsive to the people, not to corporations and special interest.
John McCain has made one undeniable statement of absolute truth while serving as Arizona's US Senator, he said in the run up to the 2000 Presidential Election "The Political Process in Washington Corrupts EVERYONE" no one denies this.
So why would a man who beside being an excellent politician who happens to be a very strong voice for Law Enforcement in Arizona, want to join the side of the team that will forever prevent Arizona from protecting its citizens from the very Illegal Invasion he says he is trying to stop???
No doubt Sheriff Babeu will be elected to Congress in his currently squeaky clean state. But I don't think anyone should get their hopes up that he will make a difference, he will only make a personal fortune.
As for Pinal County, hope they get a good Sheriff in the deal as Pinal has a recent history of Corruption that needs some adult supervision which Sheriff Babieu has been providing, another Rosco P. Coltrane could seriously harm Pinal County.
hillstreet posted at 8:53 am on Thu, Jan 5, 2012.
Great. I plan to contribute to his race to help this political carpetbagger get the hell out of Pinal so we can get us a real lawman as sheriff. He's perfect for Congress, he'll fit right in.
Immigration is just an issue he chose to ride to higher office.
daveofthedesert posted at 10:59 am on Thu, Jan 5, 2012.
I hope Sheriff "Shrek" takes his useless brother with him. How about the red light ticket "Shrek" lied about? Oops sorry he's a Repuliscum.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 8:09 am on Fri, Jan 6, 2012.
If you want to help elect a "R.E.A.L." Republican to Congress in 2012, not a "R.I.N.O." (Republican In Name Only)......
Arizona's Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is running for Congress in 2012. He is also a Retired Military Officer and was elected by County Sheriffs all across our Nation... to be the "2011 America's Sheriff of the Year".
His website is.......................................www.sheriffpaul.com