Even in the hometown named after his family, Sen. Jeff Flake's name is mud
SNOWFLAKE — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake was born and raised here, in the city co-founded by his great-great-grandfather. But he appears to have lost favorite son status.
In the center of Snowflake, there is a statue commemorating the meeting between William Flake and Erastus Snow that gave the city its start and its name.
But Sen. Flake should not expect to be memorialized in bronze here anytime soon.
An informal survey of people in Snowflake showed Flake would struggle to win votes even in his hometown.
"I'm just really disappointed," said Laura Whited, 56, who has lived in Snowflake for 13 years. "I think he’s lost touch with his constituents and he’s gone after his own agenda."
Flake was born in this White Mountain city, whose history, along with other communities in the area, is entwined with that of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Flake was one of 11 children raised on a cattle ranch in Snowflake. There is still a part of northern Snowflake called Flakeville, a term that comes from the Flake brood making their home in the neighborhood.
Flake once told the White Mountain Independent he had 69 cousins on his father's side alone. It made for a lot of Flakes in the city, whose population hovered below 4,000 when Flake grew up there.
Flake's father served as mayor of Snowflake. His uncle was a state lawmaker who would rise to be Speaker of the House in the Arizona Legislature.
After graduating from Snowflake High School, Flake went to college at Brigham Young University. He moved to Mesa, where he ran for a U.S. House seat.
Another set of Flake relatives, who declined to give their names, even expressed spiritual disappointment in their cousin.