Charlie Weaver

Who is Charlie Weaver?

Charles R. "Charlie" Weaver, Jr. is a Minnesota politician, a former Chief of Staff for Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, a former Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety, and a former Minnesota State Representative.

Weaver, the son and nephew of former state representatives, was first elected to the House in 1989. In 1998, he ran unsuccessfully for attorney general, losing to Mike Hatch.

Weaver was appointed Commissioner of Public Safety by Reform Governor Jesse Ventura in 1999, a position he would hold through 2002. In 2003, he was appointed Chief of Staff by Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty, a position he held for 11 months before stepping down to head the Minnesota Business Partnership, a business lobbying group.

Weaver was periodically mentioned as a possible candidate to succeed Pawlenty, who did not seek a third term in office. However, he opted not to pursue that interest.

Weaver is the son of former Minnesota State Representative Charlie Weaver, Sr. and nephew of former State Representative John L. Weaver. He received his bachelors degree in political science from the University of Oregon, and law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.