Candidates 2010: Jim Chapman

I am seeking election as the Republican Party nominee for judge of the Ellis County Court at Law No. 1 in the upcoming March 2nd primary election. My conservative values, legal knowledge, professional experience and deep commitment to serving the citizens of Ellis County make me uniquely qualified to solve the challenges that the court currently confronts.

This court handles a wide variety of civil litigation, probate matters and child protective services cases. The court presently faces a rapidly expanding docket and a backlog on judicial decisions, while incurring the largest taxpayer annual expense (approximately $650,000) by any court in Ellis County for court-appointed attorneys and related expenses.

I have solutions for these challenges. I pledge to first and foremost protect our children, while streamlining court processes to hear cases quicker. I will let CPS and other volunteer agencies do their jobs to aggressively protect children in need, and let attorneys advocate for their clients. without spending so much time in court. As court time is reduced, court-appointed attorney expenses can be brought back in line. This reduction in expense will save Ellis County taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in my first term.

I am a fifth generation Ellis County native and third generation Ellis County attorney. My grandfather, Dick Chapman, founded the law firm that would become Chapman & Chapman LLP in 1929. I presently practice law in partnership with my father, Steve Chapman. My practice includes a focus on litigation, mediation, business, will/probate and real estate matters. I have been legal counsel for the city of Waxahachie since 1991.

Leadership in public service has been a lifelong passion for me. I have served as president of the Waxahachie Community Development Corporation, where I led the effort to conceive and construct the Waxahachie Civic Center and the 100-acre Sports Complex for the use and benefit of our youth from throughout the area; served as chairman of the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce; Rotary Club president; president of Historic Waxahachie Inc.; and president of the Waxahachie Symphony Association. My current project is the renovation of the historic MKT railroad near the Ellis County Courthouse. I am also commencing a term as an elder of Central Presbyterian Church, where I have been a lifelong member.

I am a 1984 graduate of Waxahachie High School, a graduate of Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s of business administration degree and a law degree and a graduate of the Yale School of Management where I received my MBA.

I look forward to the opportunity to commit my talents and energy to serving the Ellis County community as judge of the County Court at Law No. 1, and ask for your vote.