Dan versus Joe: Second round

Dan Saban is set to challenge Arpaio’s so-called invincibility

Dan Saban, the recently retired police chief of Buckeye, finds a warm reception among Latino crowds these days. Even at a recent gathering of Latino artists, he was greeted with applause, and choruses of “You have my vote.”

At press time, former Maricopa Sheriff’s deputy Dan Saban was still gathering signatures to oppose Sheriff Joe Arpaio on the ballot in November. This campaign wouldn’t be his first foray against the sitting sheriff. In the 1999 election, Saban opposed Arpaio in the Republican primary, losing, but still getting about 44 percent of the vote.

Saban has switched parties and will run against Arpaio as a Democrat in the November general election. Saban believes he will succeed in replacing Arpaio this time around.

“There is a silent majority of people that are in fear, and Republicans who know better who will never say anything, that will come out and vote in the general election. This is what makes him so vulnerable,” Saban says during an interview in his Gilbert home.

There is agreement even in some Republican circles for what Saban says.

“Quietly, some Republicans are applauding Saban’s decision to challenge Arpaio. Many believe someone like Saban may finally be able to unseat the longstanding sheriff who has bluntly placed his reputation and notoriety at the same level of performing his duties. There is no question Arpaio enjoys being the center of attention of Arizona politics. But some Republicans are beginning to believe that Arpaio’s quest for the spotlight has become a political and financial liability. America’s toughest sheriff may actually be vulnerable,” commented a blogger on the Sonoran Alliance, a Web site for Arizona conservatives.
 
“…Arpaio’s popularity has been waining (sic) heavily in recent months following the arrests of Phoenix New Times publishers, numerous costly lawsuit settlements and other elected officials whom have distanced themselves from the cantankerous lawman,” the blogger adds.

Saban says many more Latinos are volunteering to help in his campaign than did his last outing. The sheriff’s actions and bluster is mobilizing citizen Latinos to move to get Arpaio out. Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski has already endorsed Saban’s candidacy. Many Latino leaders are expected to come out for Saban.

Saban believes that the Latino mobilization is good for Arizona politics. “I was telling a Latino leader just last week, ‘If we can use this campaign, to engage the Latino community, to be active in politics, no matter what the outcome of this election is, man, we’ve won.’ ”