Webster Bernell Brooks III, February 28, 1956 (Fort Collins, Colo.) -
VP candidate for Independent America Party (aka Independent) (2008)
Running mate with nominee: Daniel J. Imperato (b. 1958)
Popular vote: 0 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
Businessman Daniel J. Imperato of Florida filed as an Independent candidate for President with the FEC on Jan. 7, 2006 (Millard Fillmore's 206th birthday, by the way).
Meanwhile, in Connecticut another Independent candidate for President with the impressive sounding name of Webster Brooks III had announced his intention in the fall of 2005. Calling himself an "Independent Centrist," Brooks had been sort of a rarity, an African American Republican who worked hard to have that party address the issues of race. After having been a Republican from 1995-2003, he returned to where he started, an Independent.
Exactly how Imperato and Brooks connected has never been spelled out, but like several other outliers in 2008, the two combined their efforts. Imperato, who was well known for hyperbole and issuing frequent press releases, sent this one out on Mar. 4, 2006--
America’s Independent Choice: Imperato-Brooks 2008
(PRLEAP.COM) West Palm Beach, FL & Hartford, CT - March 4, 2006 - In a landmark announcement today, the leading independent Presidential Candidates for 2008, Daniel Imperato and Webster Brooks, have decided to join forces and run as the Independent White House Ticket, Imperato/Brooks 2008.
“Today, I am proud to announce that I am joining independent presidential candidate Daniel Imperato as his Vice Presidential running mate in 2008. Daniel Imperato is an extraordinary American. His campaign to restore our nation’s prestige in the international community and awaken America to the new possibilities of growth and prosperity in an age of great global change will animate this nation to new heights. It is a tremendous honor for me to be a part of this great enterprise to renovate the American spirit,” stated Brooks.
Imperato felt that Brooks was the missing piece to his campaign for the White House in 2008.
“Webster brooks is a great man and a fine human being. His compassion for the American people knows no boundaries, and his resolve towards our mission is steadfast. With a man like Webster Brooks as our Vice Presidential Candidate, I feel we are ready to bring our message to all of America,” contended Imperato.
The Imperato/Brooks campaign set up a website and became a press release machine. But after only nine months it came to an end--
Imperato For President 2008 Releases Brooks and Refocuses on Campaign Finance and National Campaign Effort
West Palm Beach, FL – October 16, 2006 – Today the Imperato For President 2008 Campaign announced that it has released Webster Brooks from its 2008 ticket and is refocusing the campaign on building a national team and campaign finance.
“A strategic decision has been made in the Imperato For President 2008 campaign has been made to focus on campaign finance. Ballot Access is not possible in almost 90% of all states, and most states do not become ballot access active until January 2008.”
Initially, Webster Brooks was brought on the Imperato For President 2008 team for ballot access purposes when the campaign learned that some states require both a President and a Vice Presidential candidate on a ballot access petition.
Imperato will be looking for a new candidate between now and 2008.
“To run as an independent and have a serious chance at winning, you must be of the caliber of Ross Perot, the only person to date that had a serious chance of winning the White House seat. The fact is Webster Brooks was not up to the arduous task of running for the Vice Presidential seat. It takes a lot to run a national campaign, and compete in the national forum for this position.”
The decision from the Imperato for President 2008 camp was based upon performance and the counsel of advisors and businesspeople that surround Daniel Imperato.
“Based upon the advice of my advisors and businesspeople that I am in contact with, I felt this was the correct decision for the campaign. The people of the United States of America deserve a strong campaign for 2008 and need a viable option to revive America.
While Imperato wishes Brooks the best, he wanted the people to know that his goal is still clear, An Independent America for the White House in 2008.
“We wish Mr. Brooks all of the best. He has gone off to Louisiana to tend to his elderly parents who are in need of his care. In addition, he has begun writing a novel on black slavery. We hope Mr. Brooks will find success in his future endeavors, but for now we are focusing on 2008 and White House seat.”
Imperato concluded his statement with the following, “Over the next two years, we will be building a national and international team to support the campaign for 2008. To win as an independent you must be strong and must have the support of all the people. We will be selecting a strong Vice Presidential candidate in the upcoming months, someone who can bring added strength to the team. I have a responsibility to the people of the United States of America, a responsibility that I take very seriously.
In Feb. 2007 Imperato announced he was going to seek the Reform Party nomination, then in May he switched to the Libertarian nomination which he put considerable energy into acquiring. Apparently he also looked into the Constitution and Green parties. Failing to attain the nomination of any party, Imperato endorsed Bob Barr for the Libertarian nomination.
In the event of a victory by the Imperato/Brooks ticket there might have been an unusual problem regarding the Constitution. Imperato said he was a Papal Knight, a Knight of Malta, and the United Nations representative for Orden Bonaria [!!!] Somewhere in the Constitution it reads, "no person holding any office of profit or trust under [the United States of America], shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state."
In 2010 Imperato ran for Governor of Florida as an Independent. In 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission alleged that Imperato had engaged in investment fraud. He is running for President in 2020.
Election history:
1990 - Mayor of Washington, DC (Independent) - defeated
1996 - US House of Representatives (Conn.) (Republican) - withdrew
Other occupations: school administrator, debt collection, founder of New England Republicans of Color, National Black Republican Network, chaired the National Congress of Black Conservatives and the National Black Coalition for School Choice, board member of the John E. Rogers African American Culture Center,
Notes:
Grew up in Detroit.
Moved to Connecticut in 1994. Later moved to Louisiana.
Worked to draft Colin Powell for President in 1996.
