Elaina Shively of Lafayette has announced her candidacy for the Boulder County District 3 Commissioner Race in 2022. Shively is currently the Director of Diversion and Restorative Justice for the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.

“I was born and raised in Boulder County and am now raising my own family here. Boulder County is a beautiful place to live, but also has a number of issues that need to be addressed at a systemic level to ensure that everyone can truly thrive here. As County Commissioner, I would seek collaborative and innovative approaches to meet the needs of our entire community,” Shively says.

Shively graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with both her undergraduate and law degrees. She served as a public defender in Adams County, representing indigent defendants, before starting with the Boulder County District Attorney’s office in 2015 to work on innovative criminal justice reform initiatives.

Since then, she has significantly expanded diversion programming, creating new adult and mental health diversion programs and launching an in-house restorative justice program that has become a national model. Shively can often be seen in the community with Buck, the Facility Service Dog, who she handles on behalf of the District Attorney’s office.

Shively relayed her experience, saying, “I have been in the recovery centers of some of the most significant tragedies and disasters that have faced our community in recent years, working to bring comfort and solace with Buck. I want to be able to do more than that for this community, by working to enact systemic change that will improve the lives of residents throughout Boulder County.”

Shively is a registered Democrat, running for the District 3 County Commissioner Seat, currently held by Matt Jones, which primarily covers Superior, Louisville, Lafayette, Erie, Niwot, and Gunbarrel. The Democratic primary will be held on June 28, 2022, and the general election will be on November 8, 2022.

Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Wednesday, “Elaina Shively will be an outstanding County Commissioner. In addition to leading successful Restorative Justice & Diversion Programs, Elaina has led initiatives to improve the justice system and our community. She has a proven track record of leadership and collaborating with others to develop innovative solutions, such as our Mental Health Diversion Program. Elaina’s passion for public service and her strong commitment to our community are exactly what we want to see in our next County Commissioner. I am excited to strongly support Elaina Shively for County Commissioner.”

More information can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/ElainaForBoulderCounty.