Jack Westbrook announced his intention to enter the 2020 presidential race this week…on April Fool’s Day, and the joke tricked some local political observers.
On Monday, Westbrook announced that he would be running for president as a Libertarian in 2020, joining the already crowded race. The announcement came in the morning and drew excitement from some online.
“I’ve thought about being POTUS since I was in the 1st grade,” Westbrook wrote. “Today, I’m announcing my intention to be the first President of the United States of America from the Libertarian Party.”
While his announcement on Facebook was met with excitement by some of his biggest fans, it failed to resonate with some observers that the announcement came on April Fool’s Day and was indeed a joke by the Amarillo College Board of Regents candidate.
“April Fool’s,” Westbrook replied when asked if his announcement was serious.
While Amarillo voters might not get to see a Panhandle resident on the presidential ballot in 2020, they will still have a chance to vote for Westbrook, a local retiree and substitute teacher. Westbrook is running for a seat on the Amarillo College Board of Regents in the upcoming May 4th general election. Westbrook, along with fellow challenger Terry Hawthorne, is challenging incumbents Johnny Mize, Paul Proffer, and David C. Woodburn for a seat on the nine-person board.
Westbrook/Photo by Campaign