Jonathon Sharkey
Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey (born April 2, 1964 in Elizabeth, New Jersey) is a satanist and vampire (or "sanguinary vampyre" in his own words) who was running in the 2006 gubernatorial election in the state of Minnesota. He announced his candidacy for the governorship of Minnesota on Friday the 13th of January, 2006. Sharkey had previously filed with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress in his home State of New Jersey and Florida (where two of three of his children live).
Sharkey professes a hatred for the Christian Supreme Being, God the Father, but claims that he has no disrespect for followers of the aforementioned. He says that this hatred began when his grandmother died, and fully consumed him in 2004. After his grandmother's death, he then kicked out his wife and son, and began dating his second wife. However, Sharkey is also a religious pluralist and professes respect for all creeds as well as the US Constitution. His campaign slogan was "A New Deal for Minnesota," reflecting his professed respect of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He proposed impaling terrorists and pedophiles on the grounds of the State Capitol.[1]
On January 31, 2006, Sharkey was arrested in Princeton, Minnesota on two felony counts, one of escape and one of stalking. It was later discovered that the felony stalking charge was dismissed on September 29, 2003. At his trial on July 12, 2006, Sharkey was found not guilty of the felony escape charge.
Also in documents from the Indianapolis District Court, it is mentioned in the suit that Sharkey committed suicide. Some believe he may have faked his own death.[2]
A documentary about Sharkey, "Impaler the Movie", has finished production.
On November 19, 2006, on Troop Talk Radio, Sharkey officially announced his candidacy for the Presidency for 2008. On December 13, 2006, Sharkey held a press conference in Brunswick, Ohio to unveil his new impaling stake.
Sharkey's Presidential Campaign Web site is: www.theimpalerforpresident2008.us
The VWP
The Vampires, Witches, and Pagans Party was founded by Sharkey in 2005. It is officially recognized by United States Federal Election Committee, although it is unclear what the membership is. The Party is dedicated to the protection of the religious beliefs and the political advancment of individuals identifying themselves as vampires, witches, pagans, demons, Satanists, Wiccans, and those professing similar lifestyle and religious views. Sharkey's VWP Party Yahoo Group has groups in the United Kingdom, Brazil, Ireland, and Italy. The register of political parties in the UK shows no registered party of that name. However, according to Sharkey, he plans to establish a recognized VWP political party in every country in the world.
References
- ^ "Jonathonforgovernor.us - Official Campaign site". Offline as of October 3, 2006.
- ^ "'Impaler' Claims He Did Nothing Wrong". WCCO. CBS, material contributed from AP. February 1, 2006.