Susan Bitter Smith 

Susan Bitter Smith of Scottsdale finally jumped last week into the crowded Republican primary field to challenge Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz. And I think there’s one reason why: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Bitter Smith had been publicly toying for months with the idea of joining a race that already has state Rep. Mark Anderson, R-Mesa, former state Rep. Laura Knaperek, lobbyist James Ogsbury and former County Treasurer Kevin Schweikert. Normally, I would write off even an experienced politician like Bitter Smith after getting a pretty late start.
But not now. I have no idea how Bitter Smith did it, but she wrapped up Arpaio’s personal endorsement and had him on hand for the formal announcement at her home Thursday.
Voters usually aren’t swayed much by candidate endorsements. But they often make a difference to political donors and grass root party activists who have to decide which candidate to support and how hard they are going to work.
Arpaio can’t claim a golden touch (just ask Mitt Romney). But his name will help Bitter Smith stand out for the next couple of months. And Arpaio can aid Bitter Smith to counter claims that she’s too moderate or liberal for Republicans in Congressional District 5.
Bitter Smith is a former Scottsdale City Councilwoman who currently serves in an elected position on the board of directors for the Central Arizona Project and on the Balsz Elementary School District board. She came in a close third in the same primary race from 2000 that sent Jeff Flake to Congress from the old District 1.
Full disclosure: Through a prior role as executive director of the state’s cable television association, Bitter Smith used to serve on the board of the Arizona First Amendment Coalition, and I’m a board member as well. But I haven’t seen her for a while so I didn’t recognize her at first in her new campaign publicity photo.

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