Former Phoenix mayor considers run for Sheriff

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Longtime Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio calls himself the toughest Sheriff in America, and he's said he's running for re-election next year.

Now an unlikely challenger may enter that race, former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

It could certainly shake things up for Sheriff Joe's re-election campaign. He's been elected Sheriff for Maricopa County since 1993 and is gearing up for a 7th term.

Arpaio has made headlines both in Arizona and around the country for his famous tent city, pink underwear, and his posse. But lately he's found himself mired in controversy. Currently, he's the subject of a contempt trial in federal court.

Despite his legal troubles he has said, he will run for Sheriff and expects to win.

Phil Gordon served as Phoenix's mayor from 2004 to 2013 and hasn't said for sure whether he will or will not run, but that he is considering it.

So how is Arpaio taking the news that Gordon is considering running?

"I'm not even going to talk about it. That's him. It's a free country," said Arpaio.

Gordon has said he believes this race would become a national one if he ran against Arpaio, and he thinks he'd get financial help from across the country to raise enough money to take on Sheriff Joe.