Harley O. Staggers Jr.

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Harley O. Staggers Jr.

|image = Harley Staggers Jr (1991).jpeg

|state = West Virginia

|district = 2nd

|term_start = January 3, 1983

|term_end = January 3, 1993

|predecessor = Cleve Benedict

|successor = Alan Mollohan (Redistricting)

|state_senate1 = West Virginia

|district1 = 16th{{Cite web|url=https://www.nndb.com/people/387/000129997/|title=Harley O. Staggers, Jr.|website=www.nndb.com|access-date=Aug 25, 2019}}

|term_start1 = 1980

|term_end1 = 1982

|predecessor1 = William J. Oates, Jr.

|successor1 = Vernon C. Whitacre

|birth_name = Harley Orrin Staggers Jr.

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|02|22}}

|birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

|spouse = Leslie R. Sergy (m. 1986)

|children = 3

|party = Democratic

|relations = Harley Orrin Staggers Sr. (father)
Margaret Anne Staggers (sister)

|residence = Keyser, West Virginia

|education = Harvard University (B.A.)
West Virginia University (J.D.)

}}

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.

Early life and education

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

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

= Congress =

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 =

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 {{ushr|west Virginia|2|2nd District}}. However, his home in Mineral County was drawn into the {{ushr|West Virginia|1|1st District}}, represented by fellow Democrat Alan Mollohan. Staggers opted to challenge Mollohan in the Democratic primary and was defeated.

Later career

Staggers currently practices law in Keyser, West Virginia.

Personal life

He married Leslie R. Sergy[http://www.dmbruss.com/zFamily/FM_StaggersFamily.htm Staggers Family] in 1986.[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31210010770293&view=1up&seq=373&q1=Staggers 1991-1992 Official Congressional Directory: 102d Congress] They have three children. His son Harley O. Staggers III is also a lawyer.[https://www.linkedin.com/in/harley-orrin-staggers-iii-563b6698/ Harley's LinkedIn Profile]