PoliticalGraveyard.com

Vehicle Dealer Politicians in Arizona

Claude C. Cheshire (c.1889-1960) — of Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Ariz.; Flagstaff, Coconino County, Ariz. Born in Oregon, about 1889. Automobile dealer; mayor of Nogales, Ariz., 1937-39. Suffered a heart attack and died, while dining with friends in a restaurant, Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz., January 29, 1960 (age about 71 years). Burial location unknown.   Evan Mecham (1924-2008) — of Ajo, Pima County, Ariz.; Glendale, Maricopa County, Ariz. Born in Duchesne, Duchesne County, Utah, May 12, 1924. Republican. Served in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; automobile dealer; newspaper publisher; candidate for Arizona state house of representatives, 1952; member of Arizona state senate, 1960-62; candidate for U.S. Senator from Arizona, 1962 (Republican), 1992 (Independent); Governor of Arizona, 1987-88; defeated, 1964, 1974, 1978, 1982. Mormon. Member, John Birch Society. Indicted in 1988 on six felony counts of perjury and filing a false campaign report, specifically of failing to report a $350,000 loan to his campaign by Barry Wolfson, a real estate developer; later acquitted of these charges. Impeached by the Arizona House of Representatives on February 5, 1988, on charges of obstructing justice and illegally lending state money to his business; convicted and removed from office by the Arizona Senate on April 4, 1988. A recall election was scheduled against him, but it was cancelled by the Arizona Supreme Court. Died, from complications of Alzheimer's disease, in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Ariz., February 22, 2008 (age 83 years, 286 days). Burial location unknown.   Relatives: Married 1945 to Florence Lambert.   See also National Governors Association biography — Wikipedia article — NNDB dossier   Ralph Armstead Watkins (1903-1968) — also known as Ralph Watkins — of Buckeye, Maricopa County, Ariz. Born in Fairmount, Grant County, Ind., October 17, 1903. Democrat. Automobile dealer; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Arizona, 1948, 1956; candidate for Governor of Arizona, 1950; Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative from Arizona, 1952, 1966 (primary), 1968; treasurer of Arizona Democratic Party, 1959-63; vice-president, Arizona Television Company (KetchikanVK), Phoenix; director and board chairman, Memorial Hospital, Phoenix. Baptist. Member, Freemasons; Shriners; Kiwanis. Died in Buckeye, Maricopa County, Ariz., December 25, 1968 (age 65 years, 69 days). Interment at Louis B. Hazelton Memorial Cemetery, Buckeye, Ariz.   Relatives: Son of William Victor Watkins and Mae (Ross) Watkins; married, December 8, 1924, to Ruby Lena Formby; father of Ralph Armstead Watkins Jr..   See also Find-A-Grave memorial — OurCampaigns candidate detail

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