Ken Schauer

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Ken Schauer

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

Colorado State University, 2017

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Air Force

Years of service

1996 - 2000

Personal

Religion

Lutheran

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Ken Schauer (Democratic Party) ran for election to the El Paso County Commission to represent District 3 in Colorado. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Schauer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Schauer's professional experience includes working as a licensed journeyman wireman. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1996 to 2000. Schauer earned a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in 2017.

Schauer has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
• American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
• Working Families Party

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in El Paso County, Colorado (2020)

General election

General election for El Paso County Commission District 3

Incumbent Stan VanderWerf defeated Ken Schauer and Timothy Campbell in the general election for El Paso County Commission District 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Stan VanderWerf (R)	52.7	42,303
		Ken Schauer (D)	43.1	34,640
	Submit photo	Timothy Campbell (L)	4.2	3,374

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 80,317
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for El Paso County Commission District 3

Ken Schauer advanced from the Democratic primary for El Paso County Commission District 3 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Schauer	100.0	18,694

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 18,694
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for El Paso County Commission District 3

Incumbent Stan VanderWerf advanced from the Republican primary for El Paso County Commission District 3 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Stan VanderWerf	100.0	17,512

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 17,512
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for El Paso County Commission District 3

Timothy Campbell advanced from the Libertarian convention for El Paso County Commission District 3 on April 13, 2020.

		Candidate
✔	Submit photo	Timothy Campbell (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

To view Schauer's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ken Schauer completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Schauer's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am the President of the Colorado Springs Area Labor Council, Treasurer of IBEW local 113, and the Vice President of the Colorado AFL-CIO. I am a veteran, a husband and father, and a dedicated advocate for working families. As a licensed Journeyman Wireman, and as someone who has volunteered for numerous leadership positions throughout the community, I have demonstrated time and again my work ethic, and my desire to make Colorado better for all residents. The United States Air Force brought me to Colorado in 1997, but it was the people who made me stay. I met my wife, Shiloh, at a local restaurant and we have three amazing children. Lydia is nine, and we have twin five year old boys, Dawson and Ellis. My wife is a teacher in D11, working with special needs children. Living, working and playing in this community has been a blessing, and we wish to give back to El Paso County through strong community service.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• We're putting working families first!
• People deserve to be able to live where they work, and work where they live.
• Mental health has reached a public health crisis in our communities.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a labor leader, I am passionate about the rights and protections for those who work for a living. Our working families deserve affordable housing options, clean drinking water, effective mass transit systems that service the areas they live and work, and access to the beautiful outdoors for their weekend pleasures. I have been an advocate for our homeless brothers and sisters, fighting to make sure they have the services they deserve, and access to the help they need.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

As the administrative arm of county government, the powers given to commissioners are quite broad in scope, giving them the ability to have a direct influence in the quality of life for those who live, work and potentially thrive within the county. Their work can have dramatic impacts upon public health and safety, housing, and law enforcement.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Samual Gompers was the first president of the American Federation of Labor and championed for the eight hour work day and also non-partisan agendas that either political party could endorse, pushing for reforms to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of workers throughout the world. Many of the benefits we have today as workers in our society came directly from the actions he took, and the offices he held. Being a champion for working families is the most admirable pursuit one can have in my opinion.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy: An Agenda for Growth and Shared Prosperity by Joseph Siglitz.

Stiglitz clearly outlines the need for an economy that focuses on those impacted by the economy, not just those who invest in it. This type of shareholder mentality is more encompassing than focusing only on the few at the expense of the many, and this appeals to me greatly.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Compassion and integrity. An elected official needs to be able to determine if what they are trying to achieve is actually beneficial to the people they serve. Since they will be dealing with the public, it is essential they have integrity in their dealings. Any decisions made should stand up to public scrutiny, including in their private affairs, and they need to be able to follow through with the promises they make to the best of their ability and circumstances.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have been fighting for working families for the past fifteen years. I have worked myself into a position of influence, being duly elected to the various offices I hold, and have learned the art of forming the coalitions needed to accomplish the goals that improve the lives of the working families throughout the city, county, state and country.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To seek and implement evidence based solutions to the problems they are confronted with. One cannot deny science and doctors just because it doesn't fit their political agenda.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who wasn't afraid to dive in and get the difficult work done. To be known as a person of integrity, character and wit.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Mount St. Helens erupting! I thought it was snowing in May. I remember my parents washing the ash off the deck in Libby Montana.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Montana. From the age of nine til I turned twenty I ran a boarding kennel taking care of peoples' pets when they were out of town. The kennel was in the corner of the barn, and it provided me an opportunity to work with customers, manage money, and to earn enough to pay my way through the first two years of college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Seriously!? However can I narrow this one down?

I'm a fan of Science Fiction, Fantasy but mostly I read non-fiction. Probably the most tattered book I own is George Orwell's 1984. I also love Louis L'Amour's book Flint.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Daredevil! I love the guy who fights for common folk.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Entry of the Gladiators by Julius Fucik

Commonly known as the circus theme, I found myself whistling this today when I observed some humerus situations in public.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have struggled with alcohol. I have been sober for quite some time now, and I refuse to drink ever again.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The Commissioners sit on a host of boards that allow them to influence many different aspects of our society.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that those who seek this office should have experience in serving our community through active engagement in various organizations that serve the people of El Paso County.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Experience in setting budgets, drafting and implementing strategic plans, and the ability to identify potential problems facing the county and seek solutions through evidence based approaches. One should not ignore science or the advice of the professionals who contribute to the county.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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