Arizona Governor Evan Mecham has attained what most politicians only dream of: nationwide name recognition. In his case, it has been a painful accomplishment. Already lampooned as a right-wing ideologue and bigot, the Governor again made headlines last Friday when the Arizona house voted to hold an impeachment trial. That decision came just four days after state officials announced that a recall election would be held this May -- the result of a voter petition. The big question in Arizona these days is whether the former Pontiac dealer will be removed from office by the state senate, ousted by the voters, convicted on any of six felony indictments in a criminal case, or will simply throw in the towel and resign.
Mecham, 63, stumbled into the spotlight early last year, when -- in his first major act as Governor -- he canceled the state's observation of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. That move was followed up with a yearlong string of gaffes and biased statements that managed to alienate blacks, women, gays and, finally, the Governor's fellow Republicans. Mecham's reputation hit bottom last month, when he and his brother Willard were indicted by a state grand jury for willfully concealing a $350,000 loan made to his election campaign by a real estate developer. Both pleaded not guilty on all charges, and face a criminal trial in March.
The 46-to-14 vote for impeachment followed a report last month by Special Counsel William French, who confirmed the grand jury's findings. French also accused the Governor of illegally borrowing $80,000 in public money and attempting to stifle a criminal investigation into allegations that a death threat was made against one of his former aides.
$ During a combative appearance before the house last week, Mecham insisted he was innocent of any improprieties and complained that his family was being "pilloried, chastised and vilified." While the senate decides whether to remove Mecham permanently from office, Secretary of State Rose Mofford, a Democrat, will serve as acting Governor. So far, Mecham has insisted that resignation is out of the question. But even if he survives his legal challenges, he must still contend with the voters in May.
Last summer he branded the recall movement as the work of a "few homosexuals and dissident Democrats." He toned down his rhetoric after more than 300,000 voters signed the recall petition.
In his State of the State address last month, Mecham made a rare attempt at contrition. "If I had to do it over, I would have realized earlier that style is sometimes as important as substance," he said. "How things are said is sometimes as important as what is said." Just one day later, the old Mecham promptly re-emerged, telling a startled audience how a group of Japanese "got round eyes" when they discussed golf. Embarrassed Arizonans could only hope that the end is in sight.