Principles and Platorm
Leadership
As a Submarine Officer, Project Manager, and Engineering Manager, Shafer has led diverse teams where he didn't have all the answers. His job was to make sure the people who did have the answers were empowered to make the right call, motivated to do the work, and kept coming back to get the mission done day after day.
Integrity
Trust is the bedrock of civil society. Reasonable people can disagree on solutions, but they must all look clear-eyed at the facts, acknowledge their own shortcomings, and be willing to stand up and explain their actions. Too many of our leaders obfuscate the facts in an attempt to avoid accountability. That is unfit for a public servant
Tenacity
Its one thing to commit to an action, but when following through becomes tougher than anticipated, you can give up or you can work harder to find a better way. Shafer's entire professional career has been about taking on the hard jobs that needed doing, and seeing them through to the end.
Platform
Generally speaking, Shafer's platform broadly aligns with the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee's 2025 adopted platform. Issues of concern include housing access, diversifying economic development, finding alternative revenue sources to better serve taxpayers, and improve transportation for pedestrians and commuters alike.