Shelli Shaw
Republican | Colorado
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Shelli Shaw
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 59
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, Bachelor of Arts, 1997
University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX, Master of Education, 2012
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Grace Church, Durango, CO, Member, Women's Ministry Volunteer, Legislative Oversight Committee, La Plata County
Member, Veterans for Veterans, Pagosa Springs, CO, Associate Member
Southwest Republican Women, La Plata County, Member; 2nd Vice-President, Membership, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
"Horspitality" Committee, Member, Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), Member
Current, A Christian Church, Katy, TX, Member; Journey to Bethlehem volunteer and cast leader
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
OTHER (1)
Colorado Young Republicans
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe in protecting life at any stage, including the womb.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
All tax increases should be voted on by the people. Currently, many taxes are relabeled "fees" to get around the people's vote. We need to ensure the people continue to have a voice any time tax increases are considered.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Over the last 10 years, the Governor's budget has gone from $194.8 million in 2011-2012 to $445.9 million in 2021-2022. That is a $251.1 million increase over 10 years time. In contrast, the Military and Veterans Affairs budget received $221.2 million in 2011-2012, and in 2021-2022, that amount went down to $138.7 million. That is an $82.5 million decrease over the last 10 years. The increase in the Governor's budget is more than the entire line item for our Military and our Veterans. I would want to work towards making these budgets more balanced with one another in order to reduce excessive spending.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
Students have many talents and skills, and not all of them need nor desire to go to college. Trade schools, technical schools, and advanced certifications are all options for post-high school education, and with a whole lot less debt for the student.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" (First Amendment of the Bill of Rights). According to the Bill of Rights, government should not be able to prohibit the free exercise of religion at all, including closing churches.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
I agree most closely with C. I also believe in slowly reducing the budget for Medicaid and Medicare over time.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Each decision is a personal one between a person and their health care provider. Some vaccines may be necessary for a certain individual but not necessary for someone else. Every circumstance is unique and a personal decision.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
With open borders, our national security has been severely threatened. We must ensure our border patrol officers are supported, funded, trained, and equipped to stop the influx of people crossing our borders. Within the masses crossing every day are dangerous, violent criminals including Islamic terrorists, drug dealers, gang members and murderers. Without closing our borders, the American people are in danger every single day.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who wants to immigrate to the United States should as long as they are willing to complete the application process for citizenship. This would include the mandatory background and security checks to ensure anyone coming into our country will abide by the law, and then have the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
Non-discrimination laws are to ensure there is no discrimination - period. To begin to put each and every type of discrimination will always leave out someone or some group or class of people.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Neutral
My belief on what marriage looks like may not be someone else's view. Who people decide to marry is their decision and it is not the government's role to interfere.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I value life, the Constitution, family, freedom, America, and Jesus Christ. I believe in loving everyone as Christ did, regardless of their beliefs and backgrounds. I believe in diversity, not division; community, not contempt; unity not uniformity.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Those voting must be registered and a legal United States citizen with proof of who they are when they vote. Voter records must be cleaned and updated each year to ensure every voter is a legal resident of that city, county, and state. Anyone who has been deceased must be removed prior to any election. I also believe that ballots should not be mailed to every single person in Colorado. We need to go back to in person voting with proof of residence and identity. Military should have the exception of in person voting and receive their ballot via mail if currently serving and unable to vote in person.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. The more we focus on race and fighting against each other, the more we create a tension in our American society that will only splinter us and make us weaker as a country. Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged - no, demanded - that he and his children be judged on the content of their character and not on the color of their skin. He fought hard for a nation of diversity and not division. If America is to stand, we must all stand together, for a divided house cannot last.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
The closest to my view is option A; however, it is not one without the other. There should be some guidelines when drilling and extracting oil; however, when government restricts and regulates too heavily, it not only costs jobs and hurts the economy, but it also impacts supply lines and the availability of medicines, cosmetics, plastics, synthetic rubber, cleaning products, and even asphalt for roads.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The US Constitution outlines it perfectly: establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, providing for the common defense [safety against both foreign and domestic enemies], promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity [which provides the opportunity for Americans to work hard and receive the results of that hard work].
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/republican-challenger-shelli-shaw-to-run-for-house-district-59/ https://www.thecortezchronicles.com/post/shelli-shaw-an-inspiring-conservative-voice
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I am focused on making Colorado affordable for families by reducing fees and taxes like property taxes and the state income tax. I want to reduce regulations on small businesses which are the backbone of our communities. I will work to make our neighborhoods safer by supporting our law enforcement agencies with training and incentives for new and veteran officers. Fentanyl is coming into our communities and killing our children. As of mid-April 2022, it is a ticket (misdemeanor) to possess up to 4 grams of fentanyl - which is enough to kill 2000 people. It must be made a felony again. I support our hard working teachers and the parents and students in their classrooms. As a former educator and district administrator, I believe parents and teachers should work together for the benefit of the children. Our schools cannot be successful without the collaboration and input of all stakeholders which includes parents accessing curriculum taught in the schools. I want to be a voice for the people. I am an everyday citizen who is frustrated with the cost of gas for my car, the lack of support for our law enforcement officers, and the division in our schools. I am ready to work for We the People.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
There are many other areas from which to redirect funds, one of those the governor's budget. Mental health support for our communities and our veterans is extremely important. We need more facilities to allow people to get help without having to travel for hours to the nearest treatment center. However, it shouldn't be at the expense of our law enforcement departments.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" (Second Amendment, Bill of Rights). Those that abide by the law are not the threat to public safety. Law enforcement officers must be allowed to do their jobs without fear of a civil lawsuit - they are the ones who protect public safety.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
The person committing the crime should be held responsible. If a person chooses to put on a pair of gloves, break in and strangle someone to death, is it the home builder's fault? Or do we blame the glove manufacturer? If someone chooses runs a red light and kills another driver, is it the car manufacturer's fault? The person who installed the red light? We need to stop placing blame on everyone else except the person who committed the crime.
