Evan Mecham

 
  Republican 17th governor of Arizona, serving from January 5, 1987, until his impeachment conviction on April 4, 1988. Periodic runs for political office earned him a reputation as a perennial candidate along with the nickname of "The Harold Stassen of Arizona" before he was elected governor, under the Republican banner. As governor, Mecham was plagued by controversy almost immediately after his inauguration and became the first U.S. governor to simultaneously face removal from office through impeachment, a scheduled recall election, and a felony indictment. He was the first Arizona governor to be impeached. Mecham served one term as a state senator before beginning a string of unsuccessful runs for public office. His victory during the 1986 election began with a surprise win of the Republican nomination, followed by a split of the Democratic party during the general election, resulting in a three-way race. While Governor, Mecham became known for statements and actions that were widely perceived as racially charged or racist. Among these actions were the cancellation of the state's paid Martin Luther King Jr. Day and creating an unpaid King holiday on a Sunday, attributing high divorce rates to working women, and his defense of the word "pickaninny" in describing African American children. In reaction to these events, a boycott of Arizona was organized. A rift between the Governor and fellow Republicans in the Arizona Legislature developed after the Arizona Republic newspaper made accusations of questionable political appointments and cronyism, accusations that Mecham contended were false. Having served from January 5, 1987, to April 4, 1988, Mecham was removed from office following conviction in his impeachment trial on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of government funds—funds that Mecham maintained were private. A later criminal trial acquitted Mecham of related charges. Following his removal from office, Mecham remained active in politics for nearly a decade. During this time, he served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and made his final runs for Arizona governorship and also for the U.S. Senate, in which he unsuccessfully challenged John McCain as an independent.  

Dirty Dozen: Meet 12 Of The Worst Politicians In Arizona History
"Paranoid political kook and Pontiac dealer Evan “Ev” Mecham was elected Arizona’s 17th governor in 1986 with a plurality in a three-way race that split the Democratic vote. Eighteen months later, the diminutive Archie Bunker-like bigot was out on his ass, impeached and convicted by the state Legislature on charges of obstruction of justice and misuse of public funds. "
Jan. 17, 2024
The Mecham Menace
"It's all on the line, now that a suit has been filed to throw former Governor Evan Mecham off the primary ballot."
Jul. 11, 1990
Arizona's Senate Ousts Governor, Voting Him Guilty Of Misconduct
Apr. 5, 1988
Arizona House Votes 46-14 To Impeach Mecham : Governor Must Step Down From Office Pending A Trial By The State Senate
Feb. 7, 1988
Quotes From Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham
"if a band of homosexuals and a few dissident Democrats can get me out of office, why heavens, the state deserves what else they can get.
Jan. 9, 1988
Arizona Voters May Show Governor The Door
Nov. 1, 1987
Gov. Evan Mecham Says He Finds Nothing Funny About...
"says he finds nothing funny about a series of 'Doonesbury' cartoon strips lampooning him for his remarks about blacks and homosexuals and he is considering a lawsuit."
Sep. 2, 1987
Arizona's Outspoken New Governor, Evan Mecham, Seems To Enjoy Diving Straight Into Political Hot Water
"the boycott--still spreading--is a protest against the policies and actions of the state's new shoot-from-the-lips Governor, Evan Mecham."
Aug. 24, 1987
Arizona Torn By Governor-Elect's Plan To Drop King Holiday
Dec. 23, 1986

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