'King' Arpaio sets record for reign. NOW will he quit?

It seems as if Joe Arpaio has been Maricopa County sheriff forever.

Turns out it's a little longer than that.

Fourscore and two years ago, when Arpaio turned 80, he reinforced with me that in spite of all the government entities "going after" him, he wasn't going anywhere.

And he hasn't.

And now, days before his 83rd birthday, he becomes the longest-reigning (the word "serving" doesn't seem to apply) sheriff in county history, sending out notices of that milestone and inviting reporters and supporters to his office to mark the occasion.

It would be the absolute perfect time for Arpaio to announce his retirement. To step down from the throne he's built for himself.

He could end all the controversy surrounding his office, perhaps end the trouble he's in over disobeying orders by a federal judge. He could declare victory and walk away. He would be able to lay claim to the best second (or third, or fourth) career. Ever.

He won't do it.

When Arpaio ran for office in 1992, he promised to serve one term, then leave.

He didn't.

He said he needed one more term to finish the work he'd started.

Nope.

Instead, here we are, decades later with Arpaio still in office and professing to run again in 2016, bragging about the campaign cash he has raised and speaking with defiance and bravado (at least when he's beyond the earshot of Judge Murray Snow.)

When I asked him a while back why he keeps going, even in his 80s, Arpaio said, "I keep doing this job because I have a wife of 57 years who supports me. And I do it — and I know this sounds corny to you — for the people. Wherever I go, people come up to me and say, 'Thank you.' That keeps me going."

Last year he told me, "People say I am a publicity hound. But I don't call the media. They call me … I will be the longest-elected sheriff of Maricopa County in history."

And he is.

No one can take that away from him.

But his job and even his freedom can be taken away if he were to be convicted of criminal contempt of court. Or the legal process will hurt him enough to cost the election.

So right now would be a great time to call it quits, to wave goodbye to his staff and to reporters, then walk out of the building to the strains of Sinatra's "My Way" blaring on the stereo.

And never look back.

But he won't do it.

The last time I broached the subject of his possible "retirement," Arpaio said in a slow, bellowing voice, "I. Am. Not. Going. Anywhere. You got that?"

Yeah, we've got it.

We've had it for what feels like forever.

Only longer.