11 Facts About Russ Potts

An independent candidate for Governor of Virginia in 2005, Potts received 2.22 percent of the vote in a race won by Democrat Tim Kaine, far below the votes received by Republican Jerry Kilgore.

Russ Potts was once vice president of the Chicago White Sox.

Russ Potts has been inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, NACMA Hall of Fame, Shenandoah University Hall of Fame, Potomac State College of West Virginia University Hall of Fame, John Handley High School Hall of Fame and the Phi Delta Theta Hall of Fame.

Russ Potts was re-elected by large margins in 1995 and 1999, the latter year only facing a challenger in the Republican primary.

Russ Potts was succeeded by Jill Holtzman Vogel, who defeated Mark D Tate.

Russ Potts frequently referred to himself as a "moderate Republican," and criticized the Republican Party for being too far right politically to be in touch with the people it represents.

Russ Potts ran as an independent in the Virginia gubernatorial election, 2005.

Russ Potts was considered an underdog to both of these candidates, trailing behind them in popular and financial support.

Kilgore refused to debate Russ Potts, a decision which columnist Barnie Day said could strengthen Potts' underdog appeal and was a poor decision by Kilgore.

Minutes after the debate ended, Russ Potts was taken into WTVR-TV studios where the station played back the debate in real time and recorded Russ Potts' answers to each of the debate questions.

Russ Potts married Emily Strite in 1965, and they had three daughters.