BCShaffer

Brandon C. Shaffer

Brandon Shaffer was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from East High School.

Brandon studied political science at Stanford University. He paid his way through college with a Navy ROTC scholarship and attended naval science classes at the University of California, Berkeley. He also participated in Stanford-in-Government, working as an intern for Governor Roy Romer (Colorado) and the Commission on National and Community Service (Washington D.C.). Brandon graduated with honors in 1993.

Upon graduating, Brandon was commissioned into active duty in the United States Navy. He spent his first year of service in San Diego attending various Navy training courses, but was eventually shipped out to the USS HEWITT (DD 966) stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. During his 3-year tenure aboard HEWITT, he served as Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, Deck Division Officer and Navigator. He made two deployments to the Persian Gulf and visited several countries including Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Thailand, Bahrain, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.

Shortly after reporting aboard HEWITT, Brandon was introduced to Jessicca Clark, a third grade teacher at the Department of Defense school in Yokosuka. They dated for about a year-and-a-half, then decided to tie the knot. They were married at the Yokosuka City Hall (Window #3) and haven’t looked back since.

Brandon got out of the Navy in 1997, but he and Jessicca stayed in Yokosuka for another year so Jessicca could finish her contract with DODs. During that year, he substituted in Jessicca’s elementary school and taught English to Japanese students at the local YMCA.

Late in 1997, Brandon learned that his brother had cancer, so he and Jessicca moved back to Colorado to be closer to Brandon’s family. He entered his first year of law school at the University of Colorado School of Law shortly after returning. Brandon’s brother passed away in June, 1999.

Brandon graduated from law school and passed the Colorado Bar Exam in 2001.

In November of 2004, Brandon was elected to his first term as a Colorado State Senator, representing Longmont, Erie, Lafayette, and Louisville.

Brandon and Jessica currently live in Longmont, Colorado with their two children.

District

Population 122279
Hispanic Origin 19047
NH_Wht 97242
NH_DOJ_Blk 953
NH_DOJ_Ind 1065
NH_DOJ_Asn 3331
NH_DOJ_Hwn 108
NH_DOJ_OthMR 396
18+_Pop 88062
H18+_Pop 11764
NH18+_Wht 72385
NH18+_DOJ_Blk 588

Legislation

Brandon's Legislative Background

Brandon represents District 17, which encompasses Longmont, part of Erie, Lafayette, and Louisville. He is currently the Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate and the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Brandon has been an effective voice for eastern Boulder County. He works across party lines to get things done. First elected in 2004, he has sponsored over 80 bills that are now law. Brandon has been a strong advocate for children, health care reform, and renewable energy.

Recognition for Brandon’s legislative work

In 2005, he received recognition from the Boulder County Medical Society for his “outstanding commitment to preserving and promoting the quality of health care in Colorado.” He was also named “Legislator of the Year” by the Biotechnology Industry Organization and “Champion for Children Legislator of the Year” by the Junior League of Denver.

In 2006 he received recognition from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Colorado Chapter, as the “MS Legislator of the Year.”

Following the 2007 legislative session, he was named Colorado’s most effective State Senator by Colorado Confidential (since renamed The Colorado Independent), an online news daily.

Highlights of Brandon's legislative accomplishments and a subset of the bills he has sponsored that have become law

2005

SB 05-088 requiring all school districts in Colorado offer kindergarten.
SB 05-087 to boost child immunization rates.
HB 05-1101 to allow part-time college students to stay on their parents’ health insurance.

2006

SB 06-002 to require the disclosure of property used for the production of methamphetamine in a real estate transaction.
SB 06-113 prohibiting discrimination by a life insurance company base on an uninsured’s foreign travel.
SB 06-145 to allow Colorado cities and counties to qualify for additional Medicaid funding.
HB 06-1107 and HB 06-1108 to improve driver’s education requirements.
HB 06-1297 creating a tax check-off for the Multiple Sclerosis fund.
HB 1382 the “Right to Rest in Peace Act” protecting the rights of fallen soldiers and their loved ones from disruptions at funerals.

2007

SB 07-004 to cover all kids (ages 1-3) who are diagnosed with autism with either state or private health insurance.
SB 07-237 defining drilling windows for oil and gas exploration within the Wattenberg Field.
HB 07-1054 adding an additional 43 judges to the bench in Colorado courts.
HB 07-1059 creating the school security infrastructure grant program.
HB 07-1060 extending Colorado’s bioscience research grant fund.
HB 07-1288 creating a grant program for new recycling programs/facilities in Colorado.

2008

SB 08-054 creating a system for evaluating the performance of judges.
SB 08-133 creating scholarships for potential Math/Science teachers.
SB 08-163 creating the Autism Commission.
SB 08-206 authorizing the construction of a new Judicial Center and new Colorado History Museum.
HB 08-1116 to increase access to dental care for seniors.
HB 08-1160 to allow producers of renewable energy to “net meter” their excess electricity.
HB 08-1380 creating a streamlined tax structure for multi-state businesses and reducing taxes for manufacturing facilities.