Russ Weeks

Russ Weeks
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 9th district
In office
December 1, 2002 – December 1, 2006
Preceded byWilliam R. Wooton
Succeeded byMike Green
Personal details
Born
Russell Edgar Weeks Jr.

(1942-05-12) May 12, 1942 (age 82)
Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseHelen Weeks
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Battles/warsVietnam War

Russell Edgar Weeks Jr. (born May 12, 1942[1]) is a former American Republican politician who served as a State Senator from West Virginia's 9th Senatorial District. Weeks was elected in 2002, defeating Senate Judiciary Chairman William R. Wooton. Weeks had not served in public office prior to being elected. He was defeated in 2006. He was the Republican nominee at the 2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election but was defeated by Democrat Joe Manchin.

Born May 12, 1942, to Jeanette Weeks and Russ Weeks, Sr. in Beckley, West Virginia, he is a lifelong resident of the city. He is married to Helen C. Peterson with whom he had two children. The couple has three grandchildren.

Weeks did not graduate from high school but began working to help support his mother and siblings. He enlisted in the US Navy 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.

West Virginia Senate election District 9, 2002[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Russ Weeks 9,982 51.66%
Democratic William R. Wooton 9,340 48.34%
Total votes 19,322 100.00%
Republican gain from Democratic

His committee assignments 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 reported that Weeks was planning to challenge incumbent Governor Joe Manchin in the 2008 election. Russ became the Republican nominee and lost the general election to Manchin.

  1. ^ "Russ Weeks". Facebook.
  2. ^ "State Senate Results General Election November 5, 2002" (PDF).