Maricopa College Board GOP candidate suspends campaign after sexual indecency arrest

PHOENIX — A Republican candidate for the Maricopa County Community College Governing Board suspended his campaign Tuesday after it was revealed he was arrested for sexual indecency.

Randy Kaufman is accused of masturbating in his truck in a parking lot at the Rio Salado College campus in Surprise on Oct. 4, according to a police report.

An officer approached Kaufman’s truck around 4:45 p.m. and his genitals were exposed, police said.

Kaufman told the officer he was watching pornographic material and was “just really stressed out,” according to the report.

Kaufman then told police “I f—ed up,” according to the report.

“Every American citizen has the right to fair treatment throughout the judicial system,”  The Republican Party of Arizona said in a statement. “The Republican Party of Arizona respects due process and the Constitution.

“We support Mr. Kaufman’s decision to suspend his campaign.”

The Republican was set to face Democrat and state Rep. Kelli Butler for an at-large seat on the board in the Nov. 8 general election.

Early voting for the election began last Wednesday and Kaufman will remain on the ballot.

“The nature of the charges against Mr. Kaufman is extremely troubling and I hope all the facts about this incident will be known soon and that justice is served,” Butler said in a statement.

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