'America's Toughest Sheriff' says he's coming to Jones County to campaign for sheriff hopeful

ANAMOSA - "America's Toughest Sheriff," the get-tough-on-illegal immigration law officer from Arizona, is inserting himself into the race for Jones County Sheriff.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., on Tuesday confirmed that he is coming to Jones County this weekend to address the local Republican Party and to campaign for Rick LaMere, the Republican candidate in Jones County's Oct. 4 special election for sheriff.

LaMere is running against current Jones County Sheriff Harvey DeSotel, a Democrat, who was appointed to the office July 1 by the Jones County Board of Supervisors to fill the term of Mark Denniston, who resigned. DeSotel is a former Linn County sheriff's deputy.

Also on the ballot are Greg Graver, the chief deputy in the Jones County Sheriff's office, and Scotty Shover. Graver and Shover were nominated by petition, DeSotel and LaMere by political party.

After DeSotel's appointment this summer, a citizen petition forced the special election on Oct. 4.

LaMere said he and his supporters, Citizens for Rick LaMere Campaign, were able to convince Arpaio to come to Jones County to campaign for him, in part, because of what LaMere said he has in common with Arpaio: Both are former agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

"He's a retired DEA agent, and so maybe DEA agents can be good sheriffs," LaMere said Tuesday.

Arpaio on Tuesday said Iowa Republicans were paying for his trip, and he said he was not charging any kind of speaking or appearance fee. He said he travels widely to speak at Republican gatherings, but typically does not travel to endorse a candidate. "But, yes, I will support the fellow (LaMere) for sheriff."

Asked about being called "America's Toughest Sheriff," Arpaio said, "It's actually the "World's Toughest Sheriff," though it is a name given to him, not one he uses, he said.

Arpaio, 79, was elected sheriff in 1992 and has gained prominence for holding inmates in a Tent City and for requiring inmates to wear pink underwear. He said demonstrators often appear at his events, "which I love."

He acknowledged on Tuesday that he has been investigated and sued and sometimes castigated in the media, but added, "You think I'm concerned about it?" He said current Republican candidates for president are calling him on the phone to get his support.

"If I'm so hot, why do they want my endorsement?" he asked.

Jones County candidate LaMere, who has lived in Anamosa since 1990, said he is not so well known in Jones County because he spent his years with the DEA in Eastern Iowa trying to keep his name from the public to protect his identity.

"Now I'm trying to get my name out," he said.

Citizens for Rick LaMere Campaign said:

Arpaio will arrive at The Eastern Iowa Airport at 4:50 p.m. Friday and will eat at McOtto's Restaurant, highways 151 and 64 in Anamosa, at 7 p.m.

On Saturday he will eat breakfast at 9 a.m. at Darrell's Restaurant in Monticello. At 4 p.m., he will speak at J & P Cycles, 13225 Circle Dr., Anamosa, and at 5 p.m., will attend a spaghetti dinner at the National Motorcycle Museum, 102 Chamber Dr., Anamosa.

On Sunday, he will eat breakfast at Granite City Food & Brewery, 4755 First Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. At 11:30 a.m., he will be in the food court at Coral Ridge Mall, Coralville.