Sen. Charlie Shields Bio : Leading Missouri's Education and Healthcare Reforms

Sen. Charlie Shields is a proven leader in improving our children’s opportunities for a world class education and making sure all Missourians have more available, affordable healthcare. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Floor Leader of the Missouri Senate for the 93rd General Assembly. A Republican from St. Joseph, he represents the 34th Senatorial District which includes Buchanan and Platte Counties.

Senator Shields was elected to his first Senate term in 2002. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1990, the first republican elected to the seat since 1946.

As Majority Floor Leader, the Missouri Legislature had an historic session. From schools, to work, to a day in court- Sen. Shields oversaw the passage of legislation that makes all our lives better. He orchestrated a forum for vigorous debate making sure important issues of the day reached a vote.

Beyond the duties of coordinating the schedule for floor debate, Sen. Shields has been a champion of children. He served as the architect in building a new school funding formula that is based on student needs rather than local wealth. He has also passed legislation improving early childhood education and has fought to control the cost of a college education.

Sen. Shields also has led the difficult task of reforming healthcare in Missouri. As chairman of the Medicaid Reform Commission, he has set a dramatic charge to change healthcare in Missouri to make it more available and affordable for everyone, to focus on wellness and prevention, and to use technology to save lives and save money.

Along with his service in the House and Senate, Sen. Shields is employed as a Project Coordinator, working in the areas of children’s health, mental health policy and community benefit analysis. He lives in rural Buchanan County with his family. His wife Brenda is the president of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph. They are the proud parents of high school-aged sons, Brandt and Bryce. Sen. Shields is actively involved with his sons in Boy Scouts and serves as an assistant Scoutmaster.

Sen. Shields was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a BA in marketing and a MA in business administration. He began his career in public service when he was appointed to serve on the Mid-Buchanan R-V Board of Education in 1987. He was elected to the board in 1988 and served for 16 years.

Awards

• Outstanding Freshman Legislator, 1992
• Legislator of the Year, 2002 & 2005
• Missouri PTA “A Better Missouri for Children “Award, 2005
• Distinguished Legislator Award-Missouri Community College Association, 2005
• Lewis and Clark Statesman Award-RCGA St. Louis, 2005
• Missouri Citizens for the Arts Award
• Missouri State Teachers Association Award
• Missouri State Medical Association Award
• Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living
• Distinguished Legislative Service Award
• Spirit of Enterprise Award from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, 2005
• Associated Industries of Missouri Voice of Missouri Business Award, 2000 & 2002
• Missouri Farm Bureau Friend of Agriculture Award, twice
• Guardian of Small Business Award from NFIB
• Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education Legislator Recognition Award
• Tiger Roar Recognition Award from University of Missouri
• Outstanding Legislator for Excellence in Constituent Service, 2002
• “Gary Wiggins Statesman” Award, 2003
• American Cancer Society Legislator of the Year, 2003
• Missouri State Chiropractic Association Legislator Award, 2003
• Missouri Pharmacy Association Legislative Leadership Award, 2004 & 2006
• Missouri Bar Award for Outstanding Service to the State of Missouri, 2004
• Outstanding Legislator Award-National Alliance of the Mentally Ill, 2004

Endorsements

• Associated Industries of Missouri
• Missouri Farm Bureau
• National Federation of Independent Business
• Missouri Laborers’ Union
• Missouri National Education Association
• Missouri State Teachers Association
• Missouri Chamber of Commerce
• Missouri Water Patrol Association
• Friends of the Kansas City Police Officers' Association
• Missouri Fraternal Order of Police
• St. Joseph Fraternal Order of Police