Don Chapman Says Community Service Key to Personal Satisfaction
S.C. Rep. Don Chapman
My family moved back to Anderson when I was five years old after my dad's retirement from the military. My wife Amy was born and raised here. This community is not simply where we live, it’s where we grew up, where we learned life lessons, where we built our businesses, and where we have built our life together.
When you grow up in a place, you don’t just know the streets, you know the stories. You understand how the community has evolved, what it has endured, and what it values most. You remember the families, the small businesses, the churches, the traditions, and the seasons of both hardship and celebration. That history matters.
My service to Anderson began at age 14 when I joined the Anderson Rescue Squad. At that young age, I saw firsthand what it means to show up when someone is experiencing one of the hardest days of their life. I learned that service isn’t about recognition, it’s about responsibility. It taught me early that strong communities are built when we put others before ourselves.
Over the years, Amy and I have been blessed beyond words with successful architectural and construction businesses. But we also remember what it felt like to struggle. That perspective keeps us grounded. It reminds us that every policy, every project, and every decision ultimately affects real families.
Our Christian faith and our conservative values are why we believe in personal responsibility, the importance of family, the dignity of working hard, and serving others. It is a guide of how we run our business, how we treat people, and how I cast votes in Columbia.
We are, by nature, a very private couple, especially Amy. We don't post to social media while we travel. We do not share much of our personal lives beyond close friends. However, since being elected to the State House, many have encouraged me to share more about who I am beyond votes and legislation. That is why I began my “On a Personal Note” segment in my weekly legislative update.
More recently, I’ve been encouraged to share more of our family’s history and involvement in Anderson. With the upcoming primary approaching, and with two candidates who are relatively new to our community coming from as far away as California, many people have asked me to help voters better understand the depth of my roots and my long-standing connection to this place we have called home.
The truth is simple; Amy and I didn’t come to Anderson for political opportunity. Anderson is and will always be our home. Our lives, our businesses, our faith, and our friendships were built here long before I ever considered public office, and they will remain here long after.
This is not about drawing contrasts for the sake of politics. It is about clarity.
When you represent a community, history matters. Relationships matter. Shared experiences matter. Service matters.
For decades quietly and consistently, we have invested back into Anderson, not for publicity or political benefit, but because we believe deeply that this community has been good to us, and it is only natural to give back.
Through architectural and construction companies, we have contributed time, expertise, and professional services to organizations that serve the people of Anderson. Sometimes that work has been completely pro bono. Other times, due to project size, our professional fees have been dramatically reduced. In every case, the goal has been the same: strengthen Anderson.
• Anderson Chamber of Commerce - Leadership Class 38 - Transitional Housing
• Anderson County Museum - Guest Entry & Shop
• Anderson County Museum - Andersonians in War Exhibit
• Anderson Free Clinic - Building Renovation
• Anderson Soup Kitchen - Consultation
• Cancer Association of Anderson - New Facility Design
• Clean Start - Building Renovation
• Haven of Rest Ministries - Renovation & Construction
• Habitat for Humanity Anderson - Consultation
• Salvation Army of Anderson - Building Renovation
• YMCA of Anderson - Flagpole Design
I share this not to boast, but to make a larger point:
You cannot truly represent a community you do not deeply know.
Understanding Anderson requires more than residency. It requires years of relationships. It means serving alongside nonprofit leaders, supporting local businesses, and standing shoulder to shoulder with neighbors in both difficult moments and celebrations. It means walking through neighborhoods not just during campaign season, but throughout the seasons of life.
Real community connection isn’t built in months or even a few years. It’s built over decades of showing up, giving back, and earning trust. That kind of understanding cannot simply be claimed. It has to be lived.
History builds understanding.
Understanding builds trust.
Trust makes effective service possible.
That is the foundation of leadership and it’s the foundation of how I serve Anderson.
I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me to represent District 8. Serving you is not political for me… it is personal.
S.C. Rep. Don Chapman represents Dist. 8 and is owner of Chapman Design Group, Inc.
