Turns out, New Times isn't the only publication to which Joe Arpaio-approved Congressional candidate Matt Salmon expressed how he really feels about America's self-proclaimed "toughest sheriff."
Like comments he's made to New Times, Salmon's critique of Sheriff Arpaio found in a 2003 East Valley Tribune article is a far cry from the gushing analysis of Arpaio's job performance found in Salmon's announcement that Maricopa County's aging law-dog would be endorsing his candidacy in the District 6 Congressional campaign.
Read more about candidate Salmon's switcheroo on Arpaio here.
In a May 2003 article in the East Valley Tribune, when asked about Arpaio, Salmon told the paper "do I care for Arpaio? Do I like him? No."
He goes on to compare the sheriff to Mayberry's inept top sheriff's deputy, Barney Fife.
From the Tribune:
While Arpaio may have high poll numbers, his support is not deep and people are growing weary of his antics, Salmon said. He cited the millions of dollars the county has paid in lawsuits against the sheriff's office, as well as Arpaio's well-publicized acquisition of an armored personnel carrier complete with a .50-caliber machine gun for the department.
"It almost looks like Barney Fife after a while," Salmon said of Arpaio's tenure. "It's like drilling on people's teeth without Novocaine. It just hits a raw nerve."
Salmon made similar remarks about the powerful sheriff in a 2005 interview with New Times.
In 2005, when asked about Arpaio, Salmon told New Times "I don't respect him. I don't think he's playing with a full deck."
So, as of 2005, Salmon's feelings towards Arpaio are as follows:
-He doesn't like him.
-He doesn't respect him.
-He doesn't think he's playing with a "full deck."
-He compares him to Barney Fife.
Yet, now that he's running for Congress, and could use the endorsement
of a political heavyweight known for his tough stance on Arizona's issue
du-jour, illegal immigration, Salmon's got nothin' but love for Maricopa County's corrupt top cop.
In a press release announcing that Arpaio is endorsing his campaign, Salmon says the following:
Sheriff Joe Arpaio has been a tireless advocate for the safety of Maricopa County citizens for almost two decades. He understands how important it is to protect our national borders against illegal immigration and he knows I will make that a top priority in Washington. I am grateful for his confidence in my ability to represent the best interests of our communities.
We've sent Salmon's staff multiple emails asking for an explanation of the switcheroo. We've been ignored each time.
If you'd also like an explanation as to why a Congressional candidate, who once said he had no respect for Joe Arpaio, would now refer to the sheriff as a "tireless advocate for the safety of Maricopa County citizens for almost two decades" now that he's running for Congress, email Salmon's campaign spokesman Adam Deguire at [email protected]
