Andrew Thomas (American politician)
Andrew Peyton Thomas (born 1966) is an American politician, author and former attorney.[1] He was the county attorney for Maricopa County in Arizona from 2004 until April 6, 2010.[2] During his term in office, he was known for his anti-illegal immigrant policies. On April 10, 2012, Thomas was disbarred by a disciplinary panel of the Arizona State Supreme Court for his actions as county attorney.[3]
Andrew Thomas
1966 (age 57–58)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Early life and education
Thomas was born in Long Beach, California in 1966 and spent most of his childhood in Missouri's Ozarks. He received a B.A. in political science from the University of Missouri in 1988 and a J.D. from Harvard University in 1991.[4]
Early career
Thomas moved to Arizona to join a law firm in Phoenix, where he practiced civil litigation, and left in 1994 to be Assistant Attorney General for Arizona, followed by posts as deputy counsel and criminal justice policy advisor to governor Fife Symington III. Thomas later became chief attorney at the Arizona Department of Corrections.
In 2002, Thomas easily won the Republican nomination for Arizona Attorney General, but lost the general election to Terry Goddard, though he managed to make waves with strong stands against crime, abortion and, especially, illegal immigration.[5]
Thomas joined the Maricopa County Attorney's Office as a Deputy County Attorney in 2003, then ran successfully for Maricopa County Attorney in 2004, having campaigned for state-based laws and initiatives against illegal immigration, pledging to pursue "fetal homicide" cases, and opposing same-sex marriage. He took office in January 2005, with virtually no prosecutorial experience.[5]
2010 candidacy for Arizona Attorney General
On April 1, 2010, Thomas announced his resignation as Maricopa County Attorney, effective April 6, 2010, as required by Arizona law in order to run for the office of Arizona Attorney General.[2][83] Rick Romley, was appointed interim Maricopa County Attorney by the Maricopa Board of Supervisors. Bill Montgomery thereafter won a 2010 special election, and took office as Maricopa County Attorney in November, 2010.[84][85]
After a divisive campaign leading up to the August 2010 Republican primary election for Arizona Attorney General, in which he was endorsed and supported by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,[86] Thomas lost by 899 out of 552,623 total votes to Tom Horne, who went on to win the general election.[87][88][89][90]
Disbarment
In April, 2012, a three-member panel appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court voted unanimously to disbar Thomas. The panel issued an extensive 247-page opinion discussing the decision.[91] According to the panel, Thomas "outrageously exploited power, flagrantly fostered fear, and disgracefully misused the law" while serving as Maricopa County Attorney. The panel found "clear and convincing evidence" that Thomas and his deputy brought unfounded and malicious criminal and civil charges against political opponents, including four state judges and the state attorney general.[92] "Were this a criminal case," the panel concluded, "we are confident that the evidence would establish this conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt."[93]
Thomas has denied wrongdoing, calling the bar investigation a "political witch hunt."[94] While he had the opportunity to appeal his disbarment, he chose not to.[95]
Disciplinary proceedings related to Thomas cost the State Bar of Arizona US$616,571, of which Thomas, with his co-defendants, agreed on a restitution repayment amount of US$101,294.[96]
Under rules set forth by the State Bar of Arizona, Thomas is eligible for reinstatement, five years after the effective date of disbarment.[97] Thomas was disbarred effective May 10, 2012,[91] meaning he is eligible for reinstatement on May 10, 2017. Reinstatement is not automatic for disbarred lawyers in Arizona.
2014 campaign for Arizona Governor
In May, 2014, Thomas filed nominating petitions to be placed on the Republican ballot as a candidate for Arizona Governor in the August 26, 2014 primary election.[98] In June, 2014, Thomas qualified for US$754,000 in public election funding through the Arizona Clean Elections Commission, by showing that he had received 4500 contributions of at least US$5 each from Arizona voters.[99] Thomas received 8.1% of the Republican primary votes, losing to Doug Ducey in a six-way election that shattered Arizona spending records.[100][101]
Personal life
Thomas is married to Ann Estrada Thomas, with whom he has four children.[4]