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Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is endorsing Phoenix mayoral candidate Wes Gullett, saying that he would work with them to fight illegal immigration.
“Wes Gullett understands that the most sacred responsibility of city government is public safety,” Babeu said in a press release. “He’ll work with us, not against us, to enforce the rule of law and fight illegal immigration, especially the organized crime that is fostered by human smuggling and the drug cartels.”
During a recent debate, Gullett stammered when he was asked whether he would have voted for SB 1070 as it was adopted by the state legislature.
SB 1070 is a controversial state law that mandates local police officers to act as immigration-enforcement agents and makes it a state crime for an undocumented immigrant to be present in Arizona.
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Gullett eventually said that he would have voted for the measure.
He hadn’t directly addressed the merits of SB 1070. On his website, he stated simply stated that “Phoenix must enforce all laws of the State of Arizona, including SB 1070.”
Babeu, who was named “Sheriff of the Year” by the National Sheriff’s Association, believes that Gullett is the only candidate who will fight illegal immigration and enforce the rule of law.
Gullett’s opponent in the mayor’s race, Greg Stanton, has garnered strong support from the public safety community.
Stanton has received endorsements from the Arizona Police Association, the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs, the National Border Patrol Council Local 2544, the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association and the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona.
Gullett said he was honored to have Babeu’s support.
