Being a cop’s daughter, I love Arpaio’s love of the law, and his respect for the honest citizens he is working for. He’s taken a lot of sh*t for just doing his job. Law Enforcement officers make their district’s safer. Sheriff Joe Arpaio has made America safer. Is he Governor material? I really don’t know . . .

PHOENIX – Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is expected to announce Monday if he’ll run for Arizona governor.

Several sources confirm to the ABC15 Investigators that Arpaio has already made a decision, and will likely run for the office.

In a news conference after this story was first published, the Sheriff said he was still weighing his options, but also that he would in fact have an announcement on Monday.

However, when asked about a state sales tax during the news conference, the Sheriff said, “When I’m the governor, I’ll study the issue.” He then clarified, “If become the governor..so I become the governor…I’ll study it.”

Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen said he has spoken with the Sheriff on several occasions about running for governor.

As recently as last week, Pullen said the Sheriff told him by phone that “he was just letting me know he was seriously considering it and he was meeting with his advisors and supporters to make a final decision, and that decision would be in very early May.”

Several high ranking sources within the Sheriff’s Department tell the ABC15 Investigators that all the necessary paperwork “has been filled out and is ready to file.”

Those same sources say Arpaio has been meeting with Republican power players for the last two weeks, and that several of the conversations focused on Arpaio running for governor.

In a press release from Arpaio’s campaign dated March 22, 2010, Chad Willems with Summit Consulting Group said “in just 12 months, Arpaio has raised $2 million from supporters in Arizona and around the country.”