Father of slaying victim throws support to Arpaio

The Mesa man whose son’s slaying, believed to have been at the hands of an immigrant who was in the country illegally, made him a prominent voice for President Donald Trump’s crackdown on border security is now switching his Senate endorsement from Republican Kelli Ward to her GOP rival Joe Arpaio.

Using a former Ward staffer to announce his decision, Steve Ronnebeck said on Facebook late Monday that he had no doubt the former Maricopa County sheriff shares his priorities on combating illegal immigration.

In the process, Ward, a former state senator, loses a prominent surrogate whom she has used to raise money for her campaign and who helped build credibility with Republican primary voters who see illegal immigration as the most vital issue in America.

It comes just days before early voting begins for the Aug. 28 Republican primary. Ronnebeck’s 11th-hour defection is another sign that Arpaio competes for many of the GOP voters Ward needs to defeat U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, the GOP front runner.

Ward’s spokesman, Zachery Henry, sidestepped a question Tuesday about how Ronnebeck’s shifting allegiance could affect her primary run.

“Dr. Ward has tremendous respect for Mr. Ronnebeck and the fight he is waging on behalf of his son, Grant,” Henry wrote in an emailed statement to

The Arizona Republic. “That’s why Dr. Ward’s top priority is building the wall and securing the border, and we remain confident that voters know she is the most proven and effective conservative in this race.”

Arpaio said early Tuesday morning Ronnebeck’s support underscores his zero-tolerance reputation for enforcing immigration laws as sheriff. During his reign as sheriff, a court concluded that the Sheriff ’s Office had illegally racially profiled people.

“I’m sure she’s not happy,” Arpaio said, referring to Ward. “I’m getting a lot of endorsements now that people realize i’m taking this seriously. I’m humbled by the support I’m getting.”

Ronnebeck’s 21-year-old son, Grant Ronnebeck, was murdered at the gas station where he worked the midnight shift in 2015 over a pack of cigarettes.

The man charged with killing him, Apolinar Altamirano, 29, was in the country illegally and was released by Immigration and Customs Enforcement even though he had been previously convicted of a felony burglary charge.

Since then, Steve Ronnebeck has appeared on stage with Trump several times, from a speech on illegal immigration in Phoenix last August to an event condemning the media last month at the White House.

This week he redirected his political energy to Arpaio.

“Sheriff Joe ... has shown that he doesn’t cave to pressure from the left or the media,” Ronnebeck said.