Arizona's 'Sheriff Joe' Arpaio touts signatures to qualify to run for mayor of Fountain Hill

Former Maricopa County, Ariz., Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who was previously pardoned by former President Trump, said Thursday he has reached the number of signatures needed to qualify as a candidate for mayor in a Phoenix suburb.

According to a press release posted to his account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Arpaio needs 297 nominating signatures to qualify as a candidate for mayor of Fountain Hills. The release said Arpaio has reached 594 signatures, the “maximum petition signature limit.”

“I am extremely thankful and honored for the support of the citizens of Fountain Hills recognizing my wisdom, principles, and leadership,” Arpaio said in a statement in the release. “Together, we will steer Fountain Hills to a safe and bright future!”

The former sheriff was convicted of criminal contempt in July 2017 for disregarding a judge’s order to cease detaining people solely on suspicion of immigration status. However, Trump pardoned him in August of the same year.

“Throughout his time as Sheriff, Arpaio continued his life’s work of protecting the public from the scourges of crime and illegal immigration,” the White House said in a statement at the time. 

“Sheriff Joe Arpaio is now eighty-five years old, and after more than fifty years of admirable service to our Nation, he is a worthy candidate for a Presidential pardon,” the statement added.

Trump also noted the news and celebrated the pardon in his own X post at the time.

“I am pleased to inform you that I have just granted a full Pardon to 85 year old American patriot Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He kept Arizona safe!” Trump said.