Jeff Weaver (staffer)

For the baseball player, see Jeff Weaver (baseball).

Jeff Weaver
File:Jeff Weaver (23706372033).jpg
Born	1966 (age 57–58) St. Albans City, Vermont, US
Alma mater	Boston University University of Vermont Georgetown University

Jeffrey "Jeff" P. Weaver (born 1966) is the campaign manager for the 2016 campaign of US senator Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.

Weaver formerly served as the campaign manager for Sanders' 2006 United States Senate election. He also served as chief of staff in Sanders’ House and Senate offices.

Education

Weaver graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Franklin County, Vermont, in 1983. He attended Boston University as an undergraduate ROTC candidate. He was arrested there on April 24, 1986, for disorderly conduct, along with 10 other students; they became known as the "BU Eleven." The group began building shanties on campus and tried to prevent university employees from tearing them down. 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. Weaver received an honorable discharge from the Marines' Reserve Officers' Training Corps. Also in 1986, Weaver and three other students sued 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's sign was taken down, Weaver hung an American flag and two signs, one a Marine recruiting poster and the other reading "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, 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 for exercising their right of free speech.

Weaver later graduated from the University of Vermont.

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.

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 and known locally for his efforts to register new voters. In 1990, Weaver challenged incumbent St. Albans mayor Ron Firkey for his seat. Weaver ran as an Independent and lost with 40% of the vote. In conceding the race, he said, "People haven't seen the last of Jeff Weaver."

Weaver was a staffer for Sanders' successful 1990 congressional race. Following the race, he 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.

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.

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

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."

Weaver 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 about the campaign and asks for contributions.

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.

See also

• Bernie Sanders

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN