Geek Trivia: Gone to the dogs

by Jay Garmon | Nov 11, 2003 8:00:00 AM

Tags: Social Security, Operational accounting, Jay Garmon, Al Shugart, Friends of Ernest

Takeaway: What disk drive technology pioneer ran his dog for Congress in 1996?

We asked what disk drive technology pioneer gained additional fame in 1996 when he promoted his dog as a write-in candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The tech guru in question is none other than Al Shugart, cofounder of Shugart Technology, which later became Seagate Technology. Shugart's Bernese mountain dog, Ernest, was the canine candidate; he, not surprisingly, failed to capture the Congressional seat, largely because the Federal Election Commission revoked his previously approved candidacy when it realized Ernest wasn't human. (How Ernest became a viable candidate without a social security number is another matter entirely.)

The Friends of Ernest (FOE) campaign has since transformed into an approved and registered citizen watchdog group (pun very much intended). Shugart himself has since left Seagate Technology and formed his own consultancy, Al Shugart International. However, Shugart's adventures with Ernest didn't completely exorcise his political dissatisfaction.

In 2001, Shugart ran another unconventional campaign for his local California congressional seat. This time Shugart himself was the candidate.

However, Shugart refused to join a political party, instead running as a write-in candidate in the same fashion as Ernest, and spending a miniscule self-financed campaign budget that extended to little more than bumper stickers and yard signs. Not surprisingly, Shugart's electoral ambitions met with the same fate as Ernest's--defeat--but it makes for great Geek Trivia.

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Ernest DQ'd--the real reason pVp | 11/12/03

How dare they?! jkaras | 11/12/03

Did I miss something? mrbill- | 11/12/03

There is a bright light at the end of the tunnel AlanTheTech | 11/12/03

Details please!! cedpm | 11/12/03

Here is the scoop Xchief | 11/12/03

About that Bright Light at the end of the Tunnel HAL 9000 | 11/13/03

RE: Did I miss something? cedpm | 11/12/03

KEEP THE GEEK! bkamhi@... | 11/12/03

GEEK TRIVIA CALENDAR DOWNLOADS! Jay Garmon | 11/20/03

Ernest for 2004? awells@... | 11/12/03

No more Geed Trivia? jsheehan@... | 11/12/03

CURSES! mnature | 11/12/03

NO NO NO PPPPPLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSEEEEEE DON'T STOP null | 11/12/03

Geeks Unit! Ask for More Trivia! JustMe2007 | 11/12/03

Geeks unit? ? ? rpgrogue | 11/13/03

One more vote for continuing the Geek zeroidgrl | 11/13/03

.=:: ** KEEP THE TRIVIA MOVEMENT ** ::=. KeeBored | 11/12/03

Say it isn't so!!!!! cedpm | 11/12/03

Do not delete! Marc Erickson | 11/12/03

WHY alphazagadka@... | 11/12/03

Say it isn't so!!!!! CezardelR | 11/12/03

keep the Geek!!! sbasu | 11/12/03

please keep/replace the Geek!! ed.horst | 11/12/03

KEEEEEEEP IT! mmoran@... | 11/12/03

Agreed! rader@... | 11/13/03

Keep the Geek! Dutchman10 | 11/12/03

My Vote kzinti | 11/12/03

Keep the Geek! antbert | 11/12/03

Keep The GEEK!!!! james@... | 11/13/03

Got my vote too! Len Harding | 11/12/03

Keep the Geek !!! cgrau@... | 11/13/03

OOPS ! cgrau@... | 11/13/03

Keep The Geek ffulton | 11/13/03