Bo Shaffer

Age: 54

My family: Betsy, wife of 21 years; son Morgan, 14; daughter, Brenna, 11; dog, Gillian, 7.

Career highlights: CEO of Delta Tech; District 5 Director, Left Hand Water District; Masters Degreein EPOB, CU Boulder;

What I like most about living here: The climate and the people. It's a great place to raise children.

My interests and hobbies: I have an interest in history. I tend to collect "antiques"and books. I grow cacti and succulents in a greenhouse. I sometimes sit outside the greenhouseto relaxand target shoot at boxes and small broken pots.

People who inspired me (and how): Ever since I researched a report on Benjamin Franklin for high school, I have always been fascinated (and inspired) by his extraordinary abilities and incredible span of knowledge. As an ecologist, I believe everything is connected and the more you understand, the more you see the connections. Franklin was a man who spent his life in the pursuit of knowledge and used it for the betterment of his world.

As an ex-military man, Ihave naturallybeen inspired by famous Generals. Lao-tsu, Julius Caesar, Napoleon and MacArthur come to mind foremost. The military mind is a model of efficiency and command. Many lessons learned in pursuit of military perfection can be used in everyday life.

As a sheriff, I would have to say Iwould be most inspired by three people. The first would be Sheriff Bill Masters of San Miguel County, Colorado. He has been a libertarian law enforcement officer for may years and is partially responsible for bringing the truth of the failed drug war to official attention. He shows me that this job can be done. The second would have to be sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry. His style of dealing with everything in a calm and thoughtful manner and being patient with teaching others is a model for any sheriff who's understaffed and under funded. Last, but certainly not least, I have always been inspired by my childhood hero the Lone Ranger and his latest Incarnation, Walker, Texas Ranger. Brotherhood and courage, skill and determination....all admirable traits to be inspired by.

How I have contributed to the community: As a political activist, I have always been in the thick of trying to make this society a better place in which to live and raise a family. I am always trying to protect the rights and liberties of the individual. Working during elections at the clerk's office,serving on volunteer advisory boards, running political parties.....all in the name of making this a betterworld. As a scoutmaster, I have the awesome responsibility of turning young boys into young men. I take that responsibility very seriously and take great pride in every boy who steps up and takes his pace in the world a little bit better for being in Scouts. I also teach at my daughters school, since I believe that our children are our future.

What are the biggest issues facing community now: International issues are affecting us locally, but there is very little we can do about it locally. What we*can* do locally, is try to act as responsible as we can about all aspects of our lives.Take the lead in solving our problems at home and not go looking for some other government agency to solve them for us. Budgets, policies and commands must all take into consideration the good of the many.