Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio told Newsmax on Thursday that he had not yet decided whether he would run for Arizona governor — and attributed an earlier report to a solicitation email that had been sent out in error.
"I am still considering running for governor," the tough-talking GOP sheriff told Newsmax in a brief interview. "I will make my decision in two months."
Based on an email sent to supporters by his campaign on Tuesday,
Newsmax reported that Arpaio, 81, had said that he would instead seek a seventh term as sheriff. He had been first elected in 1992.
Gov. Jan Brewer, 69, said this month that she would not seek a third term after five years in office. Term limits bar her from seeking a third term.
Brewer succeeded Gov. Janet Napolitano in 2009 when she became secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama. Brewer then won a full term in 2010.