Maria Chappelle-Nadal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
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| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 86th district |
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| In office January 9, 2019 – January 6, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Joe Adams |
| Succeeded by | Joe Adams |
| Member of the Missouri Senate from the 14th district |
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| In office January 5, 2011 – January 9, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Rita Heard Days |
| Succeeded by | Brian Williams |
| Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 72nd district |
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| In office January 5, 2005 – January 5, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Betty Thompson |
| Succeeded by | Rory Ellinger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 3, 1974 University City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Georgia State University (BA) |
Maria Nicole Chappelle-Nadal, born on October 3, 1974, is an American politician. She has served in the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate. As a Democrat from University City, Missouri, she has worked to represent the people of her state.
She was a strong voice during the shooting of Michael Brown protests in Ferguson in 2014. She also faced controversy in 2017 for a social media comment about then-President Donald Trump. Because of her comment, she was removed from her committee assignments. The Missouri State Senate also formally criticized her actions.
In 2024, Chappelle-Nadal ran for the United States House of Representatives. She ran against Cori Bush and Wesley Bell. She was not elected in the August 6, 2024, Democratic Primary.
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Early Life and Education
Maria Chappelle-Nadal grew up in University City, Missouri. She studied political science and sociology at Georgia State University. She earned a dual degree from the university.
In 2002, she was chosen as one of sixteen national fellows. This program was for women in public policy and politics. It was held at Rutgers University. She also participated in other leadership programs. Her grandfather came from Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Political Career
Missouri House of Representatives
Chappelle-Nadal was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2004. She represented District 72. She was re-elected in 2006 and 2008. She served in this role until 2010. During her time, she worked on committees. These included Ways and Means, Small Business, and Senior Citizen Advocacy.
Missouri Senate
In 2010, Chappelle-Nadal was elected as a state senator for District 14. She won re-election in 2014. She decided not to run again in 2018. Brian Williams took her place.
Role in Filibusters
Chappelle-Nadal is known for using a tactic called a filibuster. A filibuster is when a senator gives a very long speech. This is done to delay or prevent a vote on a bill.
In 2012, she led a 14-hour filibuster. This was against a bill that would have made it harder to fight workplace discrimination. Chappelle-Nadal spoke for almost 11 hours herself. The filibuster ended with a compromise. This compromise removed parts of the bill that would have hurt workers.
In 2016, she led a 39-hour filibuster. This was against a bill that could have allowed discrimination against gay couples. Later that year, she filibustered another bill. She read from a book by rapper 50 Cent. She did this to protest how police handled protests in Ferguson.
Radioactive Waste Legislation
Chappelle-Nadal has worked to raise awareness about radioactive waste in the St. Louis area. People living near the West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek have reported health problems. These include cancer and autoimmune diseases.
In 2012, she criticized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She said they were not cleaning up the waste. She also said they were not recognizing the danger. In 2013, she proposed a resolution. It asked Congress to give cleanup power to the Corps of Engineers. She proposed a similar resolution in 2014.
In 2016, she proposed a bill. It would have created a program to buy homes near the Bridgeton Landfill. These homes were contaminated. In 2017, she proposed another bill. This bill would create a $12 million program. It would buy homes affected by radioactive waste near the Bridgeton Landfills. The Missouri Senate approved this bill in April 2017.
Town Hall Meetings
In September 2015, Chappelle-Nadal held her first town hall meeting. It was in St. Louis and focused on radioactive waste. This waste came from processing uranium for World War II.
She has held many town hall meetings since then. She believes that a solution involves a congressional panel. This panel would investigate the EPA's actions. It would look at nuclear waste contamination in St. Louis.
Other Roles
Chappelle-Nadal was a member of the Democratic National Committee. She served from 2005 to 2009. She also worked for Lt. Governor Joe Maxwell in 2010. She was director of communications for him.
She also worked as Missouri's senior advocate. She helped create laws like the Senior Care and Protection Act of 2003. She also helped with the Missouri Senior Rx Generic Drug Rebate. She was a "superdelegate" for Missouri in 2008. This was for the Democratic National Convention. She currently serves on the University City School Board.
Role in Ferguson Unrest
Chappelle-Nadal took part in the protests in Ferguson, Missouri. These protests happened in August 2014 after the shooting of Michael Brown. She spoke out against how the police handled the protests. She also criticized how the community dealt with the crisis. During the protests, she was among those affected by tear gas.
Chappelle-Nadal said that inequality was a big problem in Ferguson. She believed it caused tension between police and the community. She stated that "systematic racism" had been present in state government for decades. She said people were "angry" and "hurt." They were trying to find justice.
In 2015, she proposed new laws. These laws would look at police use of force. They would also examine legal steps after deaths involving officers. During the unrest, Chappelle-Nadal strongly criticized then-Governor Jay Nixon on social media. She was upset with his response to the protests.
