Pastry chef considers new run for Arizona governorship

The governorship of my former home state of Arizona doesn't go up for grabs until next year, but potential candidates are already preparing to toss their assorted hats into the ring. Or not.

Anyway, Republican U.S. Rep J.D. Hayworth has announced that he will remain in Congress rather than run for governor in 2006, and the Arizona Republic's report includes a tidbit buried way down in the story:

Former Republican Gov. Fife Symington, 59, is considering another run for governor in 2006. Symington, who served as governor from 1991 to 1997, resigned from office immediately after being convicted by a federal jury of bank and wire fraud on Sept. 3, 1997. His conviction was overturned on appeal in June 1999, and President Clinton pardoned him in January 2001. Symington runs a consulting firm and has been working as a pastry chef at a Phoenix restaurant. He will make a decision by June.

Gosh, you'd think the guy would give up eventually. The conviction was overturned because a problem with the jury was mishandled, not because of any flaws in the case, and, to quote the Phoenix New Times, "The same Ninth Circuit panel that tossed out the case because of [a juror's] removal also stated that it found sufficient evidence to support Symington's conviction on at least three counts." Clinton's last-minute pardon, here as elsewhere, is a black spot on his presidency.

As for Hayworth, he's probably doing himself more good by remaining in Congress, especially considering Napolitano's considerable (19 point) lead over him in early polls. It's arguable that winning the governorship wouldn't exactly be a step up for him, and not winning it would be, at best, pointless. And I wouldn't be surprised if Hayworth thinks he can do the state more good in Congress than as governor.