Primary Election Date: 06/06/2012
General Election Date: 11/06/2012

Who Am I?

Brandon Shaffer is a third generation Coloradan and former naval officer.

Brandon put himself through Stanford University with a Navy ROTC scholarship. Brandon graduated from Stanford in 1993 with an honors degree in political science and a focus on education policy.

Upon graduation, Brandon was commissioned into the United States Navy and assigned to the USS Hewitt (DD 966). While stationed aboard the Hewitt, Brandon made two deployments to the Persian Gulf and served as her Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer, First Lieutenant, and Navigator. He left active duty in 1997 and returned to his home state to attend law school at the University of Colorado. He remained a reservist until 2001.

Brandon was first elected to the Colorado General Assembly in 2004 and currently represents Senate District 17, which includes Longmont, Erie, Lafayette, and Louisville. In 2009, Brandon was unanimously elected by his peers to serve as the President of the Senate. Before that, he held several leadership positions including Majority Leader, Assistant Majority Leader, and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Brandon met his wife, Jessicca Shaffer, while in the Navy and stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. She is currently a 5th grade teacher. Brandon and Jessicca live with their children, Dylan (10) and Madison (7), in Longmont, Colorado.

Why Am I Running?

Coloradans are hurting, and while we’ve made great strides, our economy is still recovering.

Civility, fairness, and responsibility defined the foundations of these United States. We built a middle class by working together and fostering innovation in our own backyard. Yet, the state of our union – and the strength of Colorado’s working families – is diminishing. Opportunities for future generations burn less bright.

We’re all frustrated by D.C. politics and the fighting that fills the news. We’re sick of seeing failures in Washington being used to grow divisions between us.

I know we can do better for our kids, and for the thousands of Colorado students depending on us to create more opportunity.

We’ve got to return to the values I was taught in the Navy, the values that made the American Dream possible.
It’s past time for us to come together, put down our partisan hatchets, and get to work for the American people.

Hold Me Accountable!

The economy must be our first priority right now. Too many Americans have been out of a job for far too long, waiting for Washington to finally get its act together and do something. The toxic atmosphere in D.C. has to stop. Here in Colorado we disagree sometimes, but we find a way to solve our problems. It’s time to take this sense of collaboration to Washington. It’s time for Colorado Solutions.

First and foremost, Washington needs to stop punishing middle class Americans through its bickering. The payroll tax cut is set to expire, putting even more financial strain on our middle class families — yours and mine. Yet Congress just simply can’t get their act together. Protecting tax breaks for millionaires while letting middle class tax breaks lapse makes no sense. I hope that Congress will fix this newest mess, and as your Congressman I promise to fight against the wrong-headed mentality that made this debate possible by placing the focus back on helping middle class America.

Our greatest opportunity for bringing back the jobs we lost and creating even more is by supporting small business through a fair tax system, and by providing resources and opportunities for small business owners to learn and grow.
Brandon Shaffer Job Creation

Here in Colorado, we have an incredible opportunity to invest in renewable energy. We are already a leader in industries such as wind and solar, but we can and should do better. There is no reason to follow the lead of other states, or other countries like China. Most important of all, an investment in renewable energy would create good, high-paying jobs for thousands. I have done my best to support renewable energy in the state legislature. I have supported various bills over the last seven years, including allowing producers of renewable energy to “net meter” their excess electricity, which makes it much easier and cheaper for consumers to use renewable energy.

Renewable energy also means expanding our use of natural gas — an area that holds great potential for CD-4. It’s time we tap into our resources right here on the Eastern Plains. We have the potential to create jobs and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Supporting the middle class, small businesses, and investing in new possibilities like renewable energy — these are solutions to serious problems. We won’t climb out of our troubles tomorrow. There is no simple fix for the number of jobs we have lost over the last four years. It will take hard work, but I have confidence that Americans, and the people of CD-4 in particular, are ready to do what it takes to fix these problems. Congress should be helping, not hindering this process.

My DFA values:

As a Navy Veteran, I know firsthand the sacrifice so many thousands of brave Coloradans have made for our country.

I would do anything to protect my family and my nation, and I strongly believe in the value of standing up for those who have served.

With end of the war in Iraq, it’s my great honor to salute the thousands of brave American soldiers who made great sacrifices to protect the security of our nation and the safety of Colorado families. I’m proud to see the final US troops come home with honor and dignity.

My Campaign is People-Powered!

First, my campaign has already knocked on hundreds of doors in the district. Second, I’m proud that we raised over $112,000 during the 4th financial quarter of 2011 from over 600 individuals! A total of 1,282 have now contributed to this campaign.

Wherever I go, I hear the same thing—Democrats, Republicans, and Independents are frustrated with Washington, D.C., and for good reason. I will continue to work hard at the grassroots level and spread the message that Congress needs a new outlook and new leaders, because we just can’t afford another Congress like this one.