Photography courtesy of the Hamilton family
Don’t worry if you didn’t see Jacob Hamilton’s name on the ballot. He doesn’t want your votes anyway.
The Wallace third-grader prefers flag football, soccer and Fortnite. But he was perplexed seeing the political signs in neighbors’ lawns this September.
His dad, Alan, explained that midterm elections were approaching, and Jacob said, “Well, I want a sign.”
One of Alan’s longtime friends already created a prank political sign in Killeen, and his creation was the Hamilton family’s inspiration. They printed 10 signs with Jacob’s name, dressed in all black and put them in friends’ front yards one Friday night.
The responses were priceless, Alan says. People even requested additional signs in their own yards.
“People were getting so polarized when it comes to politics,” Alan says. “My wife and I wanted to release some of the stresses from the election season.”
Who knows — maybe Hamilton has a shot in 2056 or so. He’ll get some practice in December, when he serves as Wallace’s principal for the day. The only policy he hopes to implement is candy and Dr. Pepper for all of his peers.
Hamilton isn’t the only Lake Highlands resident who has campaigned without a party, platform or desire to run for office. Chad Costas threw his name into the ring for a nonexistent position in 2014 with the thought-provoking slogan, “Tomorrow is the next day.” Costas is confident he had at least four write-in votes that election.
