Latino Leaders Reflect On Arpaio Defeat

By Lorin McLain

Years of animosity that swelled between the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and the local Latino community could have very well led to Joe Arpaio’s loss in the 2016 election. After 25 years, the Arpaio era came to a decisive end when voters elected Democrat Paul Penzone as the top law enforcement official by a margin of more than 55 percent to 44 percent. Activists in the Maricopa County’s Latino community say the defeat was years in the making.

“It was the people he terrorized for 23 years who went to the polls,” said Abril Gallardo with organization Bazta Arpaio. Gallardo said the 2016 election was a culmination of years of problems surrounding Arpaio that led to his defeat. Gallardo points to the legal issues over his racial profiling case that has left tax payers footing millions of dollars in legal fees, and reported abusive conditions at the jail among the reasons voters demanded change. Gallardo said she was disappointed in a majority of Maricopa voters still voting for Donald Trump – Arapaio’s biggest supporter – but she thinks the sheriff’s election caught the attention of all Americans. “It set an example for the nation that people will stand up against those aligned with hate,” she said.

Dulce Matuz with the Arizona Dream Act Coalition, credits the success of volunteers who were able to galvanize the Latino vote. “Non-profits were out there knocking on doors, making people aware and explaining the importance of voting and how they can make a difference,” she said. Laura Madrid, radio station manager for Onda 1190 AM, also credited grass roots efforts, saying “It was impressive to see so many organizations and media partners come together to help our Latino community raise our voice against Arpaio, and hard work of many that went door to door to help elect Penzone.” While Matuz said she was proud of efforts that resulted in Arpaio’s defeat, she was surprised to see the election of Donald Trump. “I was astonished how people took his word for it,” she said, speculating that voters fell for a lot of disinformation that filtered through the media.

Petra Falcon with Promise Arizona agrees 2016 was the brink for Arpaio to leave office, mentioning the previous election in which Penzone’s loss to Arpaio was closer than many expected. Arpaio won by a margin of just six points over Penzone in 2012. “We’ve been working for years to defeat Arpaio, and this is the year it happened,” she said. “It’s clearly a victory for Latinos and immigrant families who’ve lived through SB 1070.”