PLP 08 Profile: Michael Chapman

Name: Michael Chapman
Age: 33
Born: Yuba City, California
Current Digs: Albemarle County
Occupation: Student, University of Virginia School of Law
Favorite part about the job: The people, the law, the softball, and the schedule.
Your first job ever? I worked on a farm in Wheatland, California.
Favorite book? To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Favorite movie? The Shawshank Redemption
Comfort food? Spaghetti
What's in your car CD player right now? I have an iPod and listen to all kinds of music.
Next journey? Travel up to Loudoun County to look at historic homes and maybe visit a winery.
Favorite Virginia vacation spot? I love history, so I always enjoy visiting Williamsburg.
First political memory? My first substantive political memory was of Ronald Reagan.  As a young man who grew up in California during the 1980s, I thought Ronald Reagan would always lead the Republicans to victory and the White House, just as Joe Montana would always lead the 49ers to victory in the Super Bowl.  I was later disappointed on both accounts.
Whom do you admire and why? Those staying awake so we can sleep at night.
Best advice you ever got? If you fail to plan, plan to fail.
If you could have dinner with any one currently living, whom would it be and why? I would enjoy having dinner with John McCain or John Warner.  Putting politics aside, I find McCain’s story as a POW and the relationship between solitude and solidarity fascinating.  As for Warner, I can only imagine what he’s learned over a lifetime of public service.
Describe a perfect day. Having a barbeque with family and friends, sitting on the porch looking out over some beautiful land, drinking a bourbon and smoking a cigar, and the dog is behaving.
One thing most people might be surprised to learn about you? Although I’m currently studying law, I plan to take courses at Piedmont Virginia Community College next year to study viticulture and enology.  I would love to learn more about winemaking.
Ambition, political or otherwise? After I graduate law school, I would like to buy a house and get involved in my community and remain involved in state and national politics.