Editing Chris Shays (section)

==Background==

Shays was born in [[Stamford, Connecticut]], the son of Margaret "Peggy" (née Oliver) and Thurston Crane Shays. His maternal grandmother was born in [[Scotland]].<ref name=freepgs/> He grew up in [[Darien, Connecticut|Darien]], and graduated from [[Darien High School]] in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bioguideretro.congress.gov/Home/MemberDetails?memIndex=s001144|title=Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress - Retro Member details}}</ref> He attended the Christian Science [[Principia College]] in Elsah, Illinois, and received both a [[Master of Business Administration]] and a [[Master of Public Administration]] from [[New York University]]. He lives in the Black Rock section of [[Bridgeport, Connecticut]].<ref>Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=S001144 Shays, Christopher H.] Retrieved October 9, 2006.</ref> Shays has always remained a Christian Scientist—a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of [[Mary Baker Eddy]] and the Bible—throughout his life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Former Congressman Christopher Shays|url=http://articles.usa-people-search.com/content-former-congressman-christopher-shays.aspx|work=USA People Search|access-date=28 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130204144648/http://articles.usa-people-search.com/content-former-congressman-christopher-shays.aspx|archive-date=February 4, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Shays married Betsi DeRaismes in 1968. They served together in the [[Peace Corps]] in [[Fiji]] from 1968 to 1970. They have one daughter.

===Connecticut General Assembly===
At the age of 29, Shays was first elected to the Connecticut House where he served from 1975 to 1987.<ref name="Ekman">{{cite news|last=Ekman|first=Monica|title=15 things about Christopher Shays|url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060616/16shays.htm|access-date=28 January 2012|newspaper=U.S. News|date=2006-06-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604234255/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/060616/16shays.htm|archive-date=4 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He served simultaneously as the ranking member of both the Appropriations Committee and the Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding. He also served as a member of the Judiciary Committee. He served six days in jail on a contempt charge when he was a member of the Connecticut Legislature protesting judicial corruption.<ref name="Ekman"/>

===Member of the United States Congress===
In 1987, Shays won a special election to fill the vacant seat of the late Congressman [[Stewart McKinney (politician)|Stewart McKinney]].<ref name="Chris Shays">{{cite news|title=Chris Shays|url=http://www.courant.com/topic/politics/chris-shays-hpp1182.topic|access-date=28 January 2012|newspaper=Hartford Courant}}</ref> He represented the 4th congressional district (southwestern Connecticut) until losing to Jim Himes in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Jim|url=http://himes.house.gov/content/about-jim|work=Congressman Jim Himes|access-date=28 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120002024/http://himes.house.gov/content/about-jim|archive-date=20 January 2012}}</ref>

During his 21 years in Congress, Christopher  served on the Government Reform, Financial Services, Budget and Homeland Security committees and was the first congressman to enter Iraq after the war.<ref name="Chris Shays"/>

===Police incident===
In 2007, during an incident at the Capitol, a staff member under Shays' supervision attempted to bring a family through a restricted-access door.<ref>Kucinich, Jackie (July 20, 2007). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20080111104920/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/shays-apologizes-for-scuffle-with-capitol-police-officer-2007-07-20.html Shays Apologizes for Scuffle with Capitol Police officer]". ''The Hill''. Archived from [https://web.archive.org/web/20070825130449/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/shays-apologizes-for-scuffle-with-capitol-police-officer-2007-07-20.html the original] on January 11, 2008.</ref> When a [[United States Capitol Police]] officer intervened and prevented their entry, Shays engaged in a heated exchange with the officer. He raised his voice, using profanities, and attempted to inspect the officer's badge for identification.  Following the incident, Shays publicly acknowledged his regret for his behavior and accepted full responsibility for his actions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rep. Christopher Shays Apologizes for Capitol Hill Confrontation |url= https://www.foxnews.com/story/rep-christopher-shays-apologizes-for-capitol-hill-confrontation|work=Fox News |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071223055836/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290227,00.html|archive-date=December 23, 2007|url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work= Congressional Quarterly |url= http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002555773.html |title= Shays Apologizes to Capitol Police Officer |first= Jonathan |last= Allen |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194703/http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002555773.html |archive-date= September 27, 2007 }}</ref>