Candidate for
United States Representative; District 11; Democratic Party

Elaine Shaw's experience as a business lawyer and her reputation as an effective negotiator and a responsive, solution-oriented leader will serve the people of the Eleventh Congressional District well.

With twelve years' experience as an attorney specializing in corporate and commercial finance and high-tech law, Elaine has handled complex financial negotiations for corporate, municipal and non-profit clients. She is well versed in legislative law and regulations, having represented businesses and individuals in regulatory compliance matters before federal, state and municipal agencies.

Elaine's legal practice focused on approaching business conflicts with a goal of resolving disputes and creating workable solutions. Accordingly, she will seek to bring together disparate groups from the Eleventh Congressional District and will not rest on any single ideological point of view.

After the birth of her daughters, Elaine took a break from practicing law full-time and has provided free legal aide to several non-profit community organizations, including pre-school and special education programs, a woman's shelter and the fine arts.

Education has been a particular focus for Elaine. She has served as a parent representative to the San Ramon Valley School District's Gifted Education Council.

As a parent representative, Elaine worked collaboratively with other parents, teachers and school administrators to address such issues as class size and curriculum content. This hands-on experience has made Elaine an advocate for more local control in developing standards for programs and curricula in our schools and the need to hold parents, teachers and students accountable for academic performance.

Elaine attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton where she received her degree in Social Sciences. She resided in Stockton for several years following graduation. She graduated with honors from the University of Michigan Law School.

Elaine, and her husband Don, live in Danville and have two daughters Abigail, 12, and Margaret, 11. Together, they enjoy exploring the outdoors and often take family hiking and canoeing trips. Elaine and her family are members of St. Timothy's Church in Danville.