Harley O. Staggers Jr.

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Harley Orrin "Buckey" Staggers Jr. (born February 22, 1951) is an American politician and lawyer from West Virginia. He served five terms as a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 1993.

Harley O. Staggers Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byCleve Benedict
Succeeded byAlan Mollohan (Redistricting)
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 16th[1] district
In office
1980–1982
Preceded byWilliam J. Oates, Jr.
Succeeded byVernon C. Whitacre
Personal details
Born
Harley Orrin Staggers Jr.

(1951-02-22) February 22, 1951 (age 73)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseLeslie R. Sergy (m. 1986)
RelationsHarley Orrin Staggers Sr. (father)
Margaret Anne Staggers (sister)
Children3
ResidenceKeyser, West Virginia
EducationHarvard University (B.A.)
West Virginia University (J.D.)

Early life and education

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Staggers was born in Washington, D.C. His father, Harley Staggers Sr., was a Democratic Congressman from West Virginia from 1949 until 1981, when he declined to run for a seventeenth term.

Staggers, Jr. graduated from Harvard University and the West Virginia University College of Law.

Political career

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He served as an assistant West Virginia Attorney General before serving one term in the West Virginia Senate.

Congress

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After Republican congressman, Cleve Benedict, gave up his seat after one term to run against Senator Robert Byrd, Harley Staggers Jr. ran for the seat and won. He was reelected four more times, defeating Oliver Luck in his fourth re-election.

Defeat

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Harley Staggers Jr. lost his seat after West Virginia lost one congressional seat following the 1990 Census. Most of his former 2nd District's territory was merged with the Charleston-based 3rd District of fellow Democrat Bob Wise to form a new 2nd District. However, his home in Mineral County was drawn into the 1st District, represented by fellow Democrat Alan Mollohan. Staggers opted to challenge Mollohan in the Democratic primary and was defeated.

Later career

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Staggers currently practices law in Keyser, West Virginia.

Personal life

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He married Leslie R. Sergy[2] in 1986.[3] They have three children.[2][3] His son Harley O. Staggers III is also a lawyer.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Harley O. Staggers, Jr". www.nndb.com. Retrieved Aug 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Staggers Family
  3. ^ a b 1991-1992 Official Congressional Directory: 102d Congress
  4. ^ Harley's LinkedIn Profile
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from West Virginia's 2nd congressional district

1983–1993
Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative
Succeeded byas Former US Representative