Former Phoenix cop Paul Penzone enters Maricopa County sheriff race

PHOENIX — Former Phoenix police officer Paul Penzone will run for Maricopa County sheriff again, he said in an interview Wednesday.

He told Larry Gaydos, of KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos, that he plans to enter the race, though it has nothing to do with incumbent Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

“It’s about unfinished business from the last time he ran,” Gaydos wrote on Twitter.

Penzone was in the process of filing the paperwork with Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell early Wednesday afternoon. He also changed his website to reflect the news.

Penzone isn’t the only opponent Arpaio faces. He will have to defeat Dan Saban in the August primary to face off against Penzone in the general election in November.

Another candidate, Joe Rodriguez, announced his entry into the race in March.

Penzone, who ran as a Democrat, lost to Arpaio in the 2012 election by about 80,000 votes.

The campaign was marred by some mudslinging, including an ad from Arpaio claiming Penzone abused his ex-wife. The retired officer denied the claims.

In 2012, Penzone said Arpaio was no longer the sheriff the people elected in the 1990s.

“The number one most important thing is that you don’t want to chose the person because they are not the other one,” Penzone said at the time. “You want to chose the person because they are the right one.”

Penzone is a contributor to KTAR.com and a frequent guest on the air.

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