I’m Chap Petersen. For the past 16 years, I’ve been honored to represent Northern Virginia as a Democratic state senator. I am running this year for re-election in a new Senate district, which includes your household. Here’s a little bit about me:
I grew up in Fairfax City and attended Fairfax High School. After graduating from UVA law school, I entered private law practice. Over the past 29 years, I have represented thousands of local citizens and businesses as a lawyer. I still live in Fairfax City, along with my wife, Sharon Kim Petersen, and our four children. (One of whom will soon be married.)
In 2017, Sharon and I established our own law firm, Chap Petersen & Associates, near the historic Fairfax County Courthouse. We have grown that firm to 14 employees, representing many languages and backgrounds. Our focus is on small-business representation, which is perfect, as I am proud to be a small-business owner.
As a young man, I watched my parents, John and Mary Petersen, serve the Fairfax community. In 1998, I followed that path when the voters elected me to the Fairfax City Council. In 2001, I won a seat in the House of Delegates, defeating a Republican incumbent. In 2007, I defeated another Republican incumbent and won a seat in the State Senate.
In all those races, I went “door to door” to meet the voters – a tradition I continue to this day.