Russ Weeks
Encyclopedia
Russ Weeks is a former Republican
State Senator
from West Virginia
the 9th Senatorial District. Weeks was elected in 2002, defeating Senate Judiciary Chairman Bill Wooton. Weeks had not served in public office prior to being elected. He was defeated in 2006. He was the Republican nominee for 2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election.
Born May 12, 1942 to Jeanette Weeks and Russ Weeks, Sr. in Beckley, West Virginia
, he is a lifelong resident of the city. He has a sister, Pat W. George RN BSN, and a brother, Tom Weeks. He is married to the former Helen C. Peterson with whom he had two children, Sharon and Russ Weeks III. The couple has three grandchildren.
Weeks did not graduate from public schools, but he began working to help support his mother and siblings. He enlisted in the US military and served in Vietnam
, commanding a boat in the Mekong Delta
.
Returning to Beckley, he became a leader in the Right to Life
organization. This advocacy spurred his interest in seeking public office. Weeks won the 2002 election.
Russ Weeks (R) 9,982
Bill Wooton (D) 9,340
His committees once included: Judiciary, Government Organization, Health and Human Resources,
Military, Energy, Industry and Mining, and Agriculture.
Weeks was defeated for re-election in November 2006 by Democrat
Mike Green.
In January 2008 it was learned that Weeks was planning to challenge incumbent Governor Joe Manchin
in the 2008 election
. Russ lost the election to Joe Manchin.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
State Senator
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
from West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
the 9th Senatorial District. Weeks was elected in 2002, defeating Senate Judiciary Chairman Bill Wooton. Weeks had not served in public office prior to being elected. He was defeated in 2006. He was the Republican nominee for 2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election.
Born May 12, 1942 to Jeanette Weeks and Russ Weeks, Sr. in Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
, he is a lifelong resident of the city. He has a sister, Pat W. George RN BSN, and a brother, Tom Weeks. He is married to the former Helen C. Peterson with whom he had two children, Sharon and Russ Weeks III. The couple has three grandchildren.
Weeks did not graduate from public schools, but he began working to help support his mother and siblings. He enlisted in the US military and served in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, commanding a boat in the Mekong Delta
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
.
Returning to Beckley, he became a leader in the Right to Life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
organization. This advocacy spurred his interest in seeking public office. Weeks won the 2002 election.
Russ Weeks (R) 9,982
Bill Wooton (D) 9,340
His committees once included: Judiciary, Government Organization, Health and Human Resources,
Military, Energy, Industry and Mining, and Agriculture.
Weeks was defeated for re-election in November 2006 by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Mike Green.
In January 2008 it was learned that Weeks was planning to challenge incumbent Governor Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
in the 2008 election
West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2008
The West Virginia gubernatorial election of 2008 took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent governor Joe Manchin III was the Democratic nominee, challenged by Republican nominee Russ Weeks and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson...
. Russ lost the election to Joe Manchin.
See also
- List of members of the 77th West Virginia Senate
- West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2008West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2008The West Virginia gubernatorial election of 2008 took place on November 4, 2008. Incumbent governor Joe Manchin III was the Democratic nominee, challenged by Republican nominee Russ Weeks and Mountain Party candidate Jesse Johnson...