Jeff Weaver (staffer)

For the baseball player, see Jeff Weaver (baseball).
Jeff Weaver
Born 1966 (age 49–50)
St. Albans City, Vermont, U.S.
Alma mater Boston University
University of Vermont
Georgetown University

Jeffrey "Jeff" P. Weaver (born 1966)[1] is the campaign manager for the 2016 campaign of U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.[2][3][4]

Weaver formerly served as the campaign manager during Bernie Sanders' successful run for the United States Senate in 2006. Weaver also served as chief of staff in Sanders’ House and Senate offices.[5]

Education

Weaver graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Franklin County, Vermont in 1983.

Weaver attended Boston University as an undergraduate ROTC candidate. He was arrested there on April 24, 1986 for disorderly conduct, along with 10 others students who as a group became known as the "BU Eleven." The group began building shanties on campus and tried to prevent university employees from pulling down the shanties. During the incident several students, including Weaver, tried to prevent police from driving away. Some of the students were placed on probation and others suspended. It is reported that Weaver received an honorable discharge from the Marines' Reserve Officers' Training Corps.[6] In 1986 Weaver also joined with three other students in suing the university for the right to hang banners outside their dormitories. Yosef Abramowitz and two other students had displayed signs promoting divestment of the university with companies doing business with South Africa. When Abramowitz' sign was taken down, Weaver hung out an American flag and two signs, one a Marine recruiting poster and the other saying "In Solidarity With Yosef". The university claimed it had a policy against dormitory banner displays, but the students argued it was selectively enforced, violating the right to free speech. The courts ruled in the students' favor,[7] providing an immediate injunction against the students being forced to leave their dormitories, and also issuing a permanent injunction preventing the university from taking disciplinary action against the four students for exercising their right of free speech.[8]

Weaver later graduated from the University of Vermont.[9]

Career

Weaver's first role as a campaign staffer was in 1986 when he worked for Bernie Sanders's gubernatorial campaign as an Independent. Weaver served as a driver for Sanders.[1][5]

In 1987, one year after his involvement with the Sanders gubernatorial campaign, Weaver launched a campaign of his own, running for St. Albans City Ward 4 alderman. He was 21 years old at the time and was described locally for his efforts to register new voters. In 1990, Weaver challenged incumbent city mayor Ron Firkey for his seat. Weaver ran as an Independent, lost with 40 percent of the vote. Weaver reportedly conceded the race, stating: "People haven't seen the last of Jeff Weaver."[1][2]

Weaver later was a staffer for Sanders' successful 1990 Congressional race. Following the race, Weaver worked as a legislative assistant, eventually working his way up to chief of staff. Weaver later managed Sanders' successful 2006 Senate campaign and served as chief of staff.[2]

In 2009, following his role as Sanders' Senate chief of staff, Weaver left the political scene to run a comics and gaming store, Victory Comics, in Falls Church, Virginia.[1][10][11]

In May 2015, after a break from politics, Weaver was appointed campaign manager for Sanders' presidential campaign.[2][12]

The New York Times describes Weaver as "a long-trusted adviser to Mr. Sanders, who has developed a reputation inside and outside his campaign as a hard-charging operative often willing to go further than the candidate himself," and still very much "a Marine."[13]

Weaver currently writes and sends out subscription-based emails from the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign to those who have signed up to receive them. In the emails, he writes of Sanders's political platforms and asks for contributions. [14]

Personal life

Jeff Weaver grew up on Fairfield Street in St. Albans City, the county seat of Franklin County, Vermont. and graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School.[1]

See also

References

External links

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