Chap Petersen
Chap Petersen | |
---|---|
Member of the Virginia Senate from the 34th district | |
In office January 9, 2008 – January 10, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Jeannemarie Devolites Davis |
Succeeded by | Saddam Azlan Salim (Redistricting) |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the 37th district | |
In office January 9, 2002 – January 11, 2006 | |
Preceded by | Jack Rust |
Succeeded by | David Bulova |
Member of the Fairfax, Virginia city council | |
In office 1998–2001 | |
Personal details | |
Born | John Chapman Petersen March 27, 1968 Fairfax, Virginia, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Sharon Kim |
Children | 4 |
Residence(s) | Fairfax, Virginia |
Alma mater | Williams College (B.A.) University of Virginia (J.D.) |
Profession | Attorney |
Committees | Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (Chair) Education and Health Finance and Appropriations Judiciary Rules |
John Chapman "Chap" Petersen (born March 27, 1968) is an
Early life
Petersen graduated from
Petersen's wife Sharon Kim (born September 10, 1970, Daegu, South Korea), is a practicing attorney; the couple have four children.[4][5]
Political career
Petersen served on the Fairfax
In 2005, Petersen ran for
In 2006, Petersen was a senior advisor to Democratic Senate candidate
State Senate elections
2007
Petersen announced his candidacy for the 34th district seat in the State Senate, Wednesday, January 3, 2007.
Campaign flyer flap
During the week of October 22, 2007, the Devolites-Davis campaign sent out 60,000 campaign flyers accusing Petersen of not disclosing that his former law firm was working on issues that Petersen voted on while in the House of Delegates. The flyer included a copy of a section of Petersen's Statement of Economic Interest, which he filed while serving in the House. It includes Petersen's home address, telephone number, and the names of his wife and children, which were not redacted.[10] [11][12][13][14]
Petersen held a press conference on October 26 in front of Devolites-Davis' headquarters in Fairfax. He said that "words cannot describe the anger I feel" about the flyer, and called it "shocking" that Devolites-Davis would use his personal information in such a manner. Petersen said that advertising his personal information was not in and of itself a problem, but using it in an attack ad went too far. Such tactics, Petersen said, endangered his family. Devolites-Davis said in her own press conference that Petersen himself published the names and pictures of his family, and showed a mailer from the Petersen campaign showing pictures of his children. The mailer identifies the children by name. She claimed the Petersen campaign uploaded a video to YouTube which brought up her daughter's armed robbery conviction of several years ago. According to WUSA, there is no evidence that anyone from the Petersen camp uploaded the video.[10][11][12][13][14]
2023
On June 20, 2023, Petersen lost the Democratic primary for the new 37th Senate district to Saddam Azlan Salim.[15]
Political positions
Gun control
Petersen has voted multiple times against
In January 2011, Petersen voted against Senate Bill 876 (Castle Doctrine) which would have allowed “a lawful occupant use of physical force, including deadly force, against an intruder in his dwelling who has committed an overt act against him, without civil liability.”[16] In February 2011, Petersen was one of eight senators on the Senate Courts of Justice Committee who “passed by indefinitely” House Bill 1573, defeating the bill by an 8 to 4 margin.[17]
In February 2020, Petersen was one of four Democrats in the Virginia State Senate who broke party ranks to defeat an
The Confederacy
In 2020, Petersen led a lawsuit against Fairfax County when the Board of Supervisors voted to remove a monument in front of the Fairfax County Courthouse commemorating the death of the first Confederate soldier during the Civil War. Chap Petersen called the county's move "Orwellian".[19]
Marijuana legalization
In 2021, Petersen was the only Senate Democrat to vote against the legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use.[20]
Controversy over voting record
In mid-October 2007, Devolites-Davis, Petersen's opponent, began running television ads showing a photo of her opponent Chap Petersen with text stating "Supports Increasing the Estate Tax", "Supports a 38 cent gas tax increase", and "Voted for Concealed Weapons on School Property" superimposed. The voiceover attributed these allegations to Petersen's prior votes in the Virginia House of Delegates. Davis's website contains references to past Petersen votes.[21] He responded that he never voted to increase the Virginia estate tax. Petersen co-sponsored bills, including SB 1309, intending to preserve the tax for Virginians in higher income brackets. Petersen also denied ever supporting a 38 cent gas tax increase. He recently explained that he supported the current law which makes it a felony to possess a gun on school grounds, but voted for a bipartisan bill, HB 2535, which gave a limited exception to parents with licensed concealed carry permits who pick up their children at school, for just school driveways. That bill was signed into law in 2005. [citation needed]
Defense of Washington Redskins name
As controversy grew over the name of the Washington Redskins, Petersen became a vocal defender of the sports team. In 2014, he initiated a "Redskins Pride Caucus" in the Virginia Legislature.[22] Although Petersen's position is unconventional for his political party, he has said that several other Virginia Democrats have privately supported him on this issue. Citing support that he has received from individual Native Americans, Petersen has said, "I get it from all points. And listen - if somebody is offended, I'm not going to deny that that's a sincere feeling. But you can't just take that and scrub out the feelings of 100,000 other people."[23]
When the
Petersen also gave legal representation to the Native American Guardians Association, a group of Native Americans who are opposed to the removal of Native American mascots.[25][26]
COVID-19 school closures
Throughout the
In June 2020, Petersen said on "The John Fredericks Show" when discussing Jim Crow laws "Look, there were some bad decisions made, but at least they had a school system, ok, at least they had a functioning school system.[27]" This statement quickly drew controversy from Virginia Democrats who noted the history of massive resistance in Virginia where school systems refused to integrate. The Prince Edward County School Board even shut down schools for nearly five years rather than desegregate.
In January 2021, Petersen announced he would propose an amendment to the Virginia state budget to require schools receiving state funding to allow in-person learning.[28] Petersen proposed the amendment in spite of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee voting with 98% support[29] of a resolution asking "state legislators to refrain from coercing the FCPS school board to change their school reopening plan by threatening to cut their budget.[30]"
Personal career
Defense attorney for Advanced Towing
On June 25, 2020, Attorney General Mark R. Herring filed a lawsuit against Advanced Towing Company, LLC, a towing and recovery operator based in Arlington, Virginia. The Complaint alleges that Advanced Towing has violated Virginia and Arlington County towing code provisions, resulting in towing conduct that is “frequently predatory, aggressive, overreaching and illegal.” Petersen represented Advanced Towing in the case.[31]
Advanced Towing had been known in Arlington Virginia for being extremely aggressive with their towing procedures and had been accused of illegal practices for many years, including towing cars with children inside and damaging towed vehicles.[32] [33] In 2015 they made the news for an incident involving ESPN's Britt McHenry.[34]
The outcome of the case resulted in $750 in civil penalties and did not award restitution to consumers. The prosecution had depended on "the victims of Advanced’s dangerous towing practices who voluntarily testified in court to tell their story. Advanced Towing has employed predatory and illegal towing practices for years, costing Virginia consumers hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, and it deserves to be held accountable for its actions."
In the ruling, the Judge William Newman, “Although the Defendant’s conduct is sanctionable, the Court is constrained by the remedies available in both the Virginia and Arlington County Code." The court found there were “deficiencies” in Advanced Towing’s business practices and record keeping, the court “does not find evidence to issue a permanent injunction against Defendant.”
Petersen argued that “the office of the Attorney General wants to put my client out of business.” and said the ruling largely vindicates the company and owner John O’Neill. Petersen said the AG’s office did not provide enough evidence that Advanced Towing did anything illegal and called the lawsuit “overkill.” [35]
References
- ^ a b "Senator Chap Petersen; Democrat - District 34". Senate of Virginia. Archived from the original on 2009-01-15.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ^ "Saddam Salim". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
- ^ a b "About Chap". Chap Petersen; State Senator; 34th District, Virginia. Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^ "Jean Galloway Ball, P.L.C. - Sharon Kim Petersen". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-01-22.
- ^ "November 6, 2001 General and Special Elections". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Virginia; November 4, 2003 General Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008.
- ^ "Commonwealth of Virginia; June 14, 2005 Primary Election". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2009-05-02.
- ^ Glendenning, Lauren (2007-01-03). "Petersen To Challenge Devolites Davis; Former delegate to seek state senate seat". Fairfax Connection. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^ a b Virginia State Senate Race Heats Up Archived December 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, wjla.com; accessed November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Va. State Senate Race Turns Tense, nbc4.com; accessed November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Accusations of Dirty Tactics in VA Senate Race, myfoxdc.com; accessed November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Personal Accusations Fly In Contentious Va. Senate Race Archived 2007-11-09 at the Wayback Machine, wusa9.com; accessed November 13, 2014.
- ^ a b Gardner, Amy (October 27, 2007). "Candidate Cries Foul Over Mailing". The Washington Post.
- ^ "Saddam Salim Wins VA Senate Race; Chap Petersen Concedes In Letter To Supporters". Fairfax City, VA Patch. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ^ Norfolk Examiner, January 19, 2011
- ^ National Rifle Association, February 15, 2011
- ^ Laura Vozzella (February 17, 2020). "Ban on assault weapon sales dies in Va. Senate committee". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Antonio Olivo (Oct 20, 2020). "Fairfax County to donate Civil War monument to preservation group". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ Ned Oliver (April 10, 2021). "Brownies, revenge and a doctor's touch: inside the close vote to legalize marijuana in Virginia". Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "Media". Devolites.org. Archived from the original on 2007-10-26. Retrieved 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
- ^ Tom Jackman (July 14, 2014). "Va. state Sen. Chap Petersen defends 'Redskins Pride Caucus,' Redskin name". The Washington Post.
- CBS DC. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ Ian Shapira (September 26, 2014). "Redskins fans featured on 'Daily Show' tried to revoke consent before segment aired". The Washington Post.
- ^ Ryan Laroche (February 4, 2017). "Sen. L'Italien feeling heat over bill to stop use of Native American imagery, logos, nicknames". Tewksbury Town Crier. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ Lizzy Hill (February 18, 2017). "'By request' mascot bill gains legislative momentum amid opposition". Town Crier.
- ^ Feld, Lowell (11 June 2020). "Audio: Sen. Chap Petersen (D?) Goes on Trumpster Radio, Says During "Jim Crow" era, "there were some bad decisions made, but at least they had a functioning school system"". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ Times-Dispatch, KENYA HUNTER Richmond (13 January 2021). "Dunnavant, Morrissey, Petersen to introduce budget amendment requiring schools to open in person to receive state funds". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ "FCDC General Membership Meeting - November 24, 2020" (PDF). Fairfax Democrats. 2020-11-14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ "The Fairfax County Democratic Committee Supports the Evidence Based School Reopening Decisions of the Fairfax County School Board During the COVID-19 Pandemic" (PDF). Fairfax Democrats. 2020-11-24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
- ^ "ATTORNEY GENERAL HERRING SUES NORTHERN VIRGINIA TOWING COMPANY". Attorney General Mark Herring. 2020-06-25. Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
- ^ "Advanced Towing Rip off Artists or Fair Parking Enforcers". ArlingtonNow. 2010-09-29. Archived from the original on 2010-10-03. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
- ^ "Advanced Towing Fraud". Advanced Towing Fraud. 2021-11-11. Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
- ^ "ESPN Reporter berates advanced towing employee". ArlingtonNow. 2015-04-16. Archived from the original on 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
- ^ "Advanced Towing Ordered to Pay only 750 in Attorney General's Lawsuit". Arlington Now. 2021-11-11. Archived from the original on 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
Sources
- "Past member search; J. Chapman Petersen". Virginia House of Delegates. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24.
- "Chap Petersen; State Senator; 34th District, Virginia". (Constituent/campaign website)
- "Election Results". Virginia State Board of Elections. Archived from the original on 2010-06-17.
External links
- "J Chapman Petersen". Virginia Public Access Project.
- "Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)". Richmond Sunlight.
- Chap Petersen blog at OxRoadSouth.com
- Project Vote Smart - John Chapman 'Chap' Petersen[permanent dead link] profile
- Follow the Money - J Chapman Petersen
- Washington Post - Senate District 34 Race
- Appearances on C-SPAN