Jamey Westbrook

Jamey Westbrook
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 7th district
In office
November 5, 1996 – November 3, 1998
Preceded byRobert Trammell
Succeeded byBev Kilmer
Personal details
Born (1948-08-21) August 21, 1948
Donalsonville, Georgia
PartyDemocratic (until 2004)
Republican (2004–present)
SpouseGayle Williams
EducationChipola Junior College
University of South Alabama
OccupationFarmer

Jamey Westbrook (born August 21, 1948) is an American politician from Florida who served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 7th district from 1996 to 1998, and currently serves on the Jackson County Commission. He was initially a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 2004.

Early life

Westbrook was born in Donalsonville, Georgia, in 1948, and moved to Florida later that year. He attended Chipola Junior College and the University of South Alabama, where he was an assistant basketball coach.[1] Westbrook settled in Bascom, where he maintained a farm and owned a well-drilling company.[2]

Florida House of Representatives

In 1996, State Representative Robert Trammell declined to seek re-election, and Westbrook ran to succeed him in the 7th district. In the Democratic primary, Westbrook faced attorney Frank Baker and David Warriner, a former legislative aide.[2][3] Westbrook placed first in the primary, winning 42 percent of the vote, and advanced to a runoff election with Warriner, who placed second with 30 percent.[4][3] Westbrook narrowly defeated Warriner in the runoff, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Warriner's 49 percent.[5] He proceeded to the general election, where he was opposed by Republican Mark Anderson, a Panama City attorney.[6] Westbrook defeated Anderson, receiving 57 percent of the vote to his 43 percent.[7]

Westbrook ran for re-election in 1998, and was challenged by Republican Bev Kilmer, a cosmetologist who owned a chain of salons.[8] Shortly before the qualifying deadline, Westbrook was indicted by federal prosecutors for fraud. Prosecutors alleged that Westbrook conspired with federal officials to fraudulently transfer peanut quotas to his farm, and that he filed false disaster claims for farm losses. Westbrook said that the charges were politically motivated, and "as frivolous a thing as I've ever seen."[9] Nonetheless, to avoid a crowded Democratic primary, Westbrook's wife, Gayle, filed for the same legislative district, but when no other challengers filed, she dropped out of the race.[10] Kilmer only narrowly defeated Westbrook in the general election, winning 51 percent of the vote to his 49 percent.[11] Shortly after the election, Westbrook was acquitted of the conspiracy charges.[12]

In 2000, Westbrook challenged Kilmer for re-election, arguing that, in light of his acquittal, "there is going to be a real race this time."[13] The race attracted attention from both state parties,[14] and Kilmer defeated Westbrook to win a second term, winning 53–47 percent.[15]

Westbrook ran for the State House again in 2004, when Kilmer ran for Congress, and did so as a Republican Party, citing his conservative beliefs.[16] David Coley, one of Westbrook's former legislative aides, defeated him in the Republican primary by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote to his 37 percent.[17] In 2012, Westbrook ran for the State House again,[18] losing in the Republican primary to Halsey Beshears, placing third with 21 percent of the vote.[19] In 2016, Westbrook ran for the 5th district as an independent, challenging Republican State Representative Brad Drake.[20] Drake defeated Westbrook in a landslide, winning re-election with 68 percent of the vote.[21]

Jackson County Commission

In 2024, Westbrook ran for the Jackson County Commission from the 5th district. He won the Republican primary, receiving 40 percent of the vote to Jim Peacock's 32 percent, Mickey Gilmore's 20 percent, and Ana Gonzalez's 9 percent,[22] and was unopposed in the general election.[23]

In November 2025, after the Jackson County Commission voted to terminate its contract with County Attorney Michelle Jordan, she presented a memorandum to the board that alleged misconduct by Westbrook and County Administrator Jim Dean.[24] Shortly afterwards, the commission voted to terminate her contract immediately and to file a complaint against her with the Florida Bar.[25]

References

  1. ↑ Phelps, John B, ed. (1996). The Clerk's Manual: 1996-1998. Clerk of the Florida House of Representatives. p. 216.
  2. 1 2 Schneyer, Fred A. (August 25, 1996). "Candidates long on philosophy, short on specifics". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 20E. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 Schneyer, Fred A. (September 29, 1996). "Education, prisons are key issues for Democratic foes". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 4B. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "September 3, 1996 Primary Election Democratic Primary - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 1996. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  5. ↑ "October 1, 1996 Runoff Election Democratic Primary - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 1996. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  6. ↑ Cotterell, Bill (October 20, 1996). "Candidates vie for vacant House seat". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 2B. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "November 5, 1996 General Election - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 1996. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  8. ↑ Cotterell, Bill (October 25, 1998). "Westbrook stews in hot seat". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 8H. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ Morgan, Lucy (July 17, 1998). "Legislator indicted in farm quota scheme". St. Petersburg Times. p. 5B. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Fineout, Gary (July 25, 1998). "Westbrook won't face Westbrook". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 1C. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "November 3, 1998 General Election - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 1998. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Jury acquits former lawmaker of fraud". St. Petersburg Times. November 23, 1998. p. 5B. Retrieved July 5, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Cotterell, Bill (January 25, 2000). "Jamey Westbrook to run again". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 4A. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Cook Lauer, Nancy (November 5, 2000). "GOP tries hard to keep Kilmer". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 10 ELECT. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "November 7, 2000 General Election - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 2000. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  16. ↑ Cook Lauer, Nancy (August 28, 2004). "Ex-Democrats vie for Republican seat: Hard work, down-to-earth style highlight Westbrook's campaign". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 1B, 2B. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "August 31, 2004 Primary Election Republican Primary - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 2004. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  18. ↑ Portman, Jennifer (July 27, 2012). "Republicans make cases". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 4A. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "August 14, 2012 Primary Election Republican Primary - State Representative District: 7". Florida House of Representatives. 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ Dunkelberger, Lloyd (August 31, 2016). "Incumbents, even an indicted one, fend off challengers". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. A8. Retrieved July 8, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "November 8, 2016 General Election - State Representative District: 5". Florida House of Representatives. 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  22. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS - Primary Election - August 27, 2024" (PDF). Jackson County Supervisor of Elections. August 27, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  23. ↑ "OFFICIAL RESULTS - 2024 General Election" (PDF). Jackson County Supervisor of Elections. November 15, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  24. ↑ Gay, Peyton (November 25, 2025). "County attorney recommends ethics investigation to Jackson County Commission". WMBB. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
  25. ↑ Gay, Peyton (December 3, 2025). "Jackson County attorney terminated effective immediately". WMBB. Retrieved July 8, 2026.
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