Evan Mecham, who was impeached as Arizona's governor in 1988, is embarking on a new career - as a newspaper columnist.

Mecham said in Quartzsite, Ariz., he will write a column on state and national politics starting Thursday for The Gem, a weekly newspaper based in this town on the Arizona-California line. He said he's doing it for free."I wanted a chance to sharpen up my writing skills," said Mecham, whose attempt to open his own newspaper failed last year for lack of financing.

Mecham, 68, said his column will be called "Common Sense."

"I've already sent my first one in," he said. "It's about why Bill Clinton will be a one-term president."

Mecham, a former automobile dealer in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, was elected governor in 1986. He was impeached after the state Senate convicted him of obstructing justice and improperly loaning $80,000 from a state fund to his car dealership.

View Comments

Mecham ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate last November.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.