It’s back to the private sector for Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.
That comes after he lost his U.S. Senate primary race to fellow Republican Kari Lake.
“A Trump endorsement is really hard to overcome,” said Lamb, whose second four-year term ends Dec. 31.
Presidential candidate Donald Trump endorsed Lake, who defeated Lamb by 409, 333 of the votes (55%) to Lamb’s 292,886 (40%) in unofficial results. Lake faces Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego in the Nov. 5 general election.
While Lamb easily carried Pinal County, Lake crushed his hopes in Arizona’s most populous counties, Maricopa and Pima.
Asked if he would someday seek elected office again, Lamb said, “I could never say never, but it’s a rich man’s profession.”
Lamb said once he leaves his job overseeing more than 600 sheriff’s department employees, of which about 240 are deputies, he will become a law-enforcement consultant, specializing in immigration and border security issues. Getting immigration under control topped his Senate campaign platform.
“We will look at ways to be a voice for the border,” Lamb said.
During his tenure in office, Lamb said the sheriff’s office has reduced crime each year for the past seven years.
Programs he said brought to the county include federal Stone Garden grants to better secure the border, a re-entry center next to Pinal County Jail to prepare inmates for life on the outside, a veterans program and a youth re-direction program for juvenile delinquents.
The sheriff said he also secured a grant for a new county-owned helicopter, which will replace a U.S. government-owned copter.
Deputy staff was also increased by 20 positions and by working with the county board of supervisors he funded better equipment, including patrol vehicles, Lamb said.
The sheriff’s office has dramatically stepped up its social media presence on Facebook and YouTube
“We’re the No. 2 in the country for Facebook followers with over a million,” Lamb said.
The viral YouTube show, “Fridays with Frank,” has pushed followers approaching 1 million, he said.
“Frank has been a big part of that,” Lamb said of Deputy Frank Sloup’s gargantuan national following.
Lamb said he hopes to help his special services Lt. Ross Teeple win in his race for sheriff.
“I think in eight years we’ve accomplished a tremendous amount,” Lamb said.
