Captain Jack Sparrow is real. He lives in Minnesota. And he wants your vote.
The candidate, who shares a name with the pirate famously played by Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, is running for Hennepin county commissioner. And yes, that's his legal name, as a Gawker commenter first reported.
Ballot of the day. #Election2014 pic.twitter.com/p1cYLpwtGE— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) November 4, 2014
This isn't Sparrow's first run for political office. In 2013, he ran for mayor of Minneapolis on a platform that upholds Occupy Wall Street ideology. He has also worked as an activist for housing issues, working closely with Occupy Minnesota to oppose banks foreclosing on homeowners.
When he's not running for office, Sparrow is blogging from the perspective of a self-proclaimed "Occupirate" -- meaning he dresses up like a pirate, black eyeliner included. He changed his name as part of his involvement with the Occupy movement, according to his website.
Below, you can watch the Sparrow debating incumbent Hennepin County commissioner Paul McLaughlin. But it's just a bit disappointing: There's a serious lack of pirate garb here.
Meanwhile, Minnesota voters' reactions to the familiar name range from amusement to disdain.
Captain Jack Sparrow was on my ballot this morning, as a county commissioner candidate. Bet he has a great election night party #stelex— Joe Carlson (@_JoeCarlson) November 4, 2014
How am I supposed to take democracy seriously when Captain Jack Sparrow was on the ballot for County Commissioner?— Christopher Bluma (@CalmHubris) November 4, 2014
The verdict is still out on whether he knows where all the rum has gone.