Former Senate President Brandon Shaffer has been appointed to the Colorado Parole Board, a full-time position that must receive Senate confirmation, the governor’s office announced today.
The Longmont Democrat served eight years in the Senate before leaving in January because of term limits. He unsuccessfully ran for Congress last year in a district that favors Republicans.
The parole board holds hearings and considers applications for parole (think of Red in Shawshank Redemption) and handles and parole revocations.
Shaffer must be confirmed by his former colleagues in the Senate, which should make for an interesting but predictable hearing: Democrats have a 20-15 majority. He will serve as vice chairman of the board, a position that pays $95,712. His term expires in 2016.
The governor’s office also appointed Joe Morales, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Safety under former GOP Gov. Bill Owens, to the Parole Board.
Morales and Shaffer will replace two board members who are retiring, former Colorado Democratic Party chairwoman Pat Waak and Mike Anderson.
Owens also appointed a term-limited lawmaker to the board.