Brandon Shaffer
Encyclopedia
Brandon Shaffer is the current President of the Colorado State Senate representing Senate District 17, which encompasses the cities of Longmont, Lafeyette, Erie, and Louisville. Shaffer, a lifelong Democrat, was first elected as a State Senator in November 2004, and was reelected in 2008. Following the resignation of Senate President Peter Groff
in 2009, Shaffer was elected to the post, while Senator John Morse
(D-Colorado Springs) became Majority Leader. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for Colorado's 4th Congressional District.
which he paid for with a Navy
ROTC scholarship. Shaffer earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science, and also participated in the Stanford-in-Government program. While involved in the program, Shaffer worked as an intern for Colorado Governor Roy Romer as well as the Commission on National and Community Service in Washington D.C. Shaffer graduated with honors in 1993. After college Shaffer was commissioned into active duty in the United States Navy
. After spending a year in San Diego, he was deployed to Yokosuka, Japan
. While there, Shaffer served aboard the USS Hewitt (DD-966)
as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Deck Division Officer and Navigator. It was in Japan
that he met his wife, elementary school teacher, Jessica Clark.
. Once he returned he was accepted into law school at the University of Colorado
. Shaffer became involved in Colorado politics in 2000 as the Get Out The Vote
coordinator for Boulder County. Shaffer graduated from law school in 2001. Following graduation, Shaffer continued his political career serving as the Boulder County Get out the Vote coordinator again in 2002. In November 2004 Shaffer ran a successful State Senate campaign against Republican candidate Sandy Hume
, and libertarian candidate Bo Shaffer for Colorado's District 17.
Shaffer was elected by his peers to serve as the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also served on the Senate Health and Human Services and Finance committees. In 2009, Shaffer became the President of the State Senate following the resignation of then-Senate President Peter Groff
.
In the State Senate, Shaffer passed legislation including laws ensuring health coverage for autistic children, expanding scholarships for veterans, ensuring fiscal stability for the state retirement system, and making college in Colorado more affordable and accessible. He currently serves on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors and the Uniform State Laws Commission.
Shaffer has been recognized by the Colorado Community College System (Legislator of the Year, 2010), United Veterans Committee of Colorado (Distinguished Legislator Award 2009), National Biotechnology Industry (Legislator of the Year, 2006), and Multiple Sclerosis Society (Legislator of the Year, 2006).
Peter Groff
Peter C. Groff is a member of the Obama administration and a former Colorado legislator and President of the Colorado Senate. An attorney, public servant, and political veteran, Groff was elected as a Democrat to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000, then re-elected in 2002...
in 2009, Shaffer was elected to the post, while Senator John Morse
John Morse (Colorado legislator)
In the 2007 legislative session, Morse served on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and was Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee...
(D-Colorado Springs) became Majority Leader. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for Colorado's 4th Congressional District.
Early life, education and military career
Brandon Shaffer was born on March 22, 1971 in Denver and graduated from East High School. After graduation Shaffer attended Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
which he paid for with a Navy
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
ROTC scholarship. Shaffer earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science, and also participated in the Stanford-in-Government program. While involved in the program, Shaffer worked as an intern for Colorado Governor Roy Romer as well as the Commission on National and Community Service in Washington D.C. Shaffer graduated with honors in 1993. After college Shaffer was commissioned into active duty in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After spending a year in San Diego, he was deployed to Yokosuka, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. While there, Shaffer served aboard the USS Hewitt (DD-966)
USS Hewitt (DD-966)
USS Hewitt , named for Admiral H. Kent Hewitt USN , was a built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi and launched on 14 September 1974 by Mrs. Leroy Hewitt Taylor and Mrs. Gerald Hewitt Norton, daughters of Admiral Hewitt.-History:Hewitt was the...
as an Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Deck Division Officer and Navigator. It was in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
that he met his wife, elementary school teacher, Jessica Clark.
Political career
Shaffer left the navy in 1997 and returned to the United States in 1998. During his final year in Japan he became a substitute teacher and taught English to Japanese students at a local YMCAYMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
. Once he returned he was accepted into law school at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. Shaffer became involved in Colorado politics in 2000 as the Get Out The Vote
Get out the vote
"Get out the vote" are terms used to describe two categories of political activity, both aimed at increasing the number of votes cast in one or more elections.- Non-partisan contexts :...
coordinator for Boulder County. Shaffer graduated from law school in 2001. Following graduation, Shaffer continued his political career serving as the Boulder County Get out the Vote coordinator again in 2002. In November 2004 Shaffer ran a successful State Senate campaign against Republican candidate Sandy Hume
Sandy Hume
Sandy Hume, born Alexander Britton Hume Jr., , was an American journalist. A journalist for The Hill newspaper in Washington, D.C., Hume was the son of Brit Hume, then Fox News Channel's managing editor, and Clare Jacobs Stoner.- Career :Hume broke the story of the aborted 1997 coup by Rep...
, and libertarian candidate Bo Shaffer for Colorado's District 17.
Shaffer was elected by his peers to serve as the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He also served on the Senate Health and Human Services and Finance committees. In 2009, Shaffer became the President of the State Senate following the resignation of then-Senate President Peter Groff
Peter Groff
Peter C. Groff is a member of the Obama administration and a former Colorado legislator and President of the Colorado Senate. An attorney, public servant, and political veteran, Groff was elected as a Democrat to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2000, then re-elected in 2002...
.
In the State Senate, Shaffer passed legislation including laws ensuring health coverage for autistic children, expanding scholarships for veterans, ensuring fiscal stability for the state retirement system, and making college in Colorado more affordable and accessible. He currently serves on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors and the Uniform State Laws Commission.
Shaffer has been recognized by the Colorado Community College System (Legislator of the Year, 2010), United Veterans Committee of Colorado (Distinguished Legislator Award 2009), National Biotechnology Industry (Legislator of the Year, 2006), and Multiple Sclerosis Society (Legislator of the Year, 2006).
2012 Congressional campaign
On July 4, 2011, Shaffer announced that he was running for Congress from Colorado's 4th District.See also
- Brandon Shaffer's Announcement for Congress
- Colorado State Senate Democratic Majority
- Colorado Senate page
- www.BrandonShaffer.com
- Colorado General AssemblyColorado General AssemblyThe Colorado General Assembly is the state legislature of the State of Colorado.-Constitutional definition:The Colorado Constitution establishes a system of government based on the separation of powers doctrine with power divided among three "departments": executive, legislative and judicial...
- Colorado Senate