# Russ Weeks > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Russ_Weeks > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Russ_Weeks.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Weeks > Source revision: 1293326906 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American politician (1942–2024)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Russ Weeks | image = Russ Weeks.jpg | state_senate = West Virginia | district = [9th](/source/West_Virginia's_9th_Senate_district) | term_start = December 1, 2002 | term_end = December 1, 2006 | predecessor = [William R. Wooton](/source/William_R._Wooton) | successor = [Mike Green](/source/Mike_Green_(West_Virginia_politician)) | birth_name = Russell Edgar Weeks Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date|1942|5|12}} | birth_place = [Beckley, West Virginia](/source/Beckley%2C_West_Virginia), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|12|19|1942|5|12}} | death_place = [New Bern, North Carolina](/source/New_Bern%2C_North_Carolina), U.S. | party = [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) | spouse = Helen Weeks | allegiance = {{flag|United States}} | branch = [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) | battles = [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War) }} '''Russell Edgar Weeks Jr.''' (May 12, 1942 – December 19, 2024) was an American politician who served as a [State Senator](/source/West_Virginia_Senate) from West Virginia's [9th Senatorial District](/source/West_Virginia's_9th_Senate_district) as a member of the [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) party. Weeks was elected in [2002](/source/2002_West_Virginia_Senate_election), defeating Senate Judiciary Chairman [William R. Wooton](/source/William_R._Wooton). Weeks had not served in public office prior to being elected. He was defeated in [2006](/source/2006_West_Virginia_Senate_election). He was the Republican nominee at the [2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election](/source/2008_West_Virginia_gubernatorial_election) but was defeated by Democrat [Joe Manchin](/source/Joe_Manchin). Born May 12, 1942, to Jeanette Weeks and Russ Weeks, Sr. in [Beckley, West Virginia](/source/Beckley%2C_West_Virginia),{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/Russ-Weeks/14835268332#/pages/Russ-Weeks/14835268332?v=info&viewas=1243467974|title=Russ Weeks|website=[Facebook](/source/Facebook) }} he was a lifelong resident of the city. He was 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](/source/Vietnam_War), commanding a boat in the [Mekong Delta](/source/Mekong_Delta). Returning to Beckley, he became a leader in the [Right to Life](/source/Right_to_Life) organization. This advocacy spurred his interest in seeking public office. Weeks won the 2002 election. {{Election box begin no change | title = West Virginia Senate election District 9, 2002{{cite web|title=State Senate Results General Election November 5, 2002|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20State%20Senate%20Gen.pdf}} }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Russ Weeks | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = 9,982 | percentage = 51.66% }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = William R. Wooton | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 9,340 | percentage = 48.34% }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 19,322 | percentage = 100.00% }} {{Election box gain with party link no swing |winner = Republican Party (United States) |loser = Democratic Party (United States) }} {{Election box end}} 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](/source/Democratic_Party_(United_States)) [Mike Green](/source/Mike_Green_(West_Virginia_politician)). In January 2008 it was reported that Weeks was planning to challenge incumbent Governor [Joe Manchin](/source/Joe_Manchin) in the 2008 election. Russ became the Republican nominee and lost the general election to Manchin. On December 19, 2024, Weeks died at his home in [New Bern, North Carolina](/source/New_Bern%2C_North_Carolina), at the age of 82.[https://www.paulfuneralhome.com/obituary/russell-weeks-jr Russell Edgar Weeks, Jr.] ==See also== * [List of members of the 77th West Virginia Senate](/source/List_of_members_of_the_77th_West_Virginia_Senate) * [2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election](/source/2008_West_Virginia_gubernatorial_election) ==External links== * [http://www.legis.state.wv.us West Virginia Legislature] ==References== {{reflist|1}} * {{C-SPAN|1030474}} {{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[Monty Warner](/source/Monty_Warner)}} {{s-ttl|title=[Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) nominee for [Governor of West Virginia](/source/List_of_Governors_of_West_Virginia)|years=[2008](/source/2008_West_Virginia_gubernatorial_election)}} {{s-aft|after=[Bill Maloney](/source/Bill_Maloney)}} {{s-end}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Weeks, Russ}} Category:1942 births Category:2024 deaths Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War Category:Military personnel from Beckley, West Virginia Category:Politicians from Beckley, West Virginia Category:Republican Party West Virginia state senators Category:United States Navy sailors Category:21st-century West Virginia politicians Category:21st-century members of the West Virginia Legislature {{WestVirginia-politician-stub}} --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Russ Weeks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Weeks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Weeks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.