Former AZ Governor Evan Mecham Dies
Evan Mecham, known also as Ev Mecham, was the 19th Governor of Arizona. He served as Governor from January 6, 1987 to April 4, 1988. Although it was a short time, it was a turbulent time, and those of is who lived here then recall a confusing and embarrassing period for the state. Mecham was impeached for several indiscretions, including misuse of government funds when he made his auto dealership a loan using money from the inauguration fund.
Aside from that impeachment process, Evan Mecham was prone to making unpopular statements about women and minorities. Arizona claimed some dubious fame nationwide when he referred to African Americans as pickaninnies, although he claimed it was never intended to be an ethnic slur. He is credited with the repeal of the paid Martin Luther King Holiday in Arizona previously decreed by Governor Bruce Babbitt, his predecessor. The backlash of that action proved detrimental to tourism and the general image of the State of Arizona, as more than 160 conventions canceled their plans to meet here.
Evan Mecham tried, but wasn't ever again successful as a political candidate in Arizona. His own Republican Party never really supported him, as many saw his mode of operation to be arrogant and crude. In 1992 he campaigned against John McCain for the U.S. Senate seat, and received only about 10% of the vote. Although Ev Mecham's impeachment was certainly not the only scandal endured by Arizonans in the past few decades, he is not remembered fondly for his accomplishments here. You can read more about Evan Mecham, including some quotes attributed to him, in today's news.
Evan Mecham had been ill for several years, and suffered from dementia related to Alzheimer's Disease. He was 83 years old at the time of his passing.
Comments
What I find odd is that people remember Evan Mecham as the evil man who rescinded MLK Day in Arizona. The problem is, he was right! As pointed out in the website you posted, the Attorney General’s Office stated that the governor (Bruce Babbitt at the time) did not have the authority to proclaim a paid holiday.
For all Mecham’s faults, he really did try to do the right thing with MLK Day in Arizona, even going so far as to declare a Sunday (unpaid) holiday, which the governor does have the authority to do, when the Legislature couldn’t get one bill passed to create the paid holiday in Arizona.
He may have angered a lot of people with this and many other actions and words, but let’s give credit where credit is due.
Besides, how many other states can claim they had a governor removed from office through impeachment while he was facing criminal charges and a recall election?
OK, so that’s not really a point of pride, but still…
Your point has nothing to do with Mechum’s statement of ” You people don’t need another holiday. You need jobs.”
That says his rationale was racist. I supported MLK holiday at the time & was gainfully employed. Racist old dead cracker, good riddance.