Pro-immigrant pastor to challenge Arpaio

In an e-mail, Pastor Richard Tamayo, the former New York City police officer turned preacher who now who advocates for the rights of immigrants with a video camera in his hand and a gun on his hip, announces that he wants to be Maricopa County, Arizona's top cop.

As of 4/10/08 I've decided to run for Sheriff of Maricopa. I am registered at the Elections Department and have started the petition process to get on the Primary election ballot. I need about 10,000 signatures to be on the safe side by June 4, 2008.

A quick search of Maricopa County campaign information shows that Richard Tamayo is indeed registered, with no campaign finance information yet on file (registration is required before funds can be raised).

While Tamayo has yet to work out a detailed platform -- he tells me he's "taking baby steps" and likens his challenge to long-established banana-republic-style Sheriff Joe Arpaio to the "story of David and Goliath" -- it's a fair bet that ending police abuse of immigrants will be on the agenda.