The Champion

Van was raised in Sandy Springs. He has a bachelor's degree in fiannance from Georgia Southern. He has lived in Chamblee since 1999. He founded and is a member of the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce, is former chair and a member of the Chamblee Downtown Development Authority, was president of the Chamblee Business Association and was a member of the Chamblee Recreational Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Lori, have a son, Theo.

Van is a certified financial planner. He works for oXYGen Financial. He previously worked at Crifasi Enterprises, Inc.

Van Pappas ran for Chamblee mayor in 2017 but did not win.

Promises to hold regular meet and greets with citizens.

Wants to "work with the Mayor, City Council, Economic Development Manager and the City Manager to ensure a planned and prosperous growth that can withstand demographic and economic challenges in the future."

- Promises to hold regular meet and greets with citizens. 
- Wants to "work with the Mayor, City Council, Economic Development Manager and the City Manager to ensure a planned and prosperous growth that can withstand demographic and economic challenges in the future."

Public Services

Said "I will follow the guidelines given by the people and institutions created to ensure the safety of the citizens of our country/state/city"

- Said "I will follow the guidelines given by the people and institutions created to ensure the safety of the citizens of our country/state/city"

COVID

Promises to produce more revenue for the city and use efficient spending practices.

Wants to create an environment where businesses will be successful to drive more revenue to the city

Said that Chamblee businesses fund the city more than residential property taxes, which only make up 14% of the city's revenue

- Promises to produce more revenue for the city and use efficient spending practices.
- Wants to create an environment where businesses will be successful to drive more revenue to the city
- Said that Chamblee businesses fund the city more than residential property taxes, which only make up 14% of the city's revenue

City Budget

Wants to make sure "diversity in housing is available"

Supports affordable housing for senior citizens and community servants like teachers and police officers

Plans to form a Housing Task Force to identify solutions to housing issues in Chamblee

- Wants to make sure "diversity in housing is available"
- Supports affordable housing for senior citizens and community servants like teachers and police officers
 - Plans to form a Housing Task Force to identify solutions to housing issues in Chamblee

Housing & Urban Development

Wants a stronger emphasis on training for officers to make sure they can do their job effectively

Supports classes like Public Safety 101 that can educate citizens

Wants increased communication between the city, police officers, and citizens

- Wants a stronger emphasis on training for officers to make sure they can do their job effectively
- Supports classes like Public Safety 101 that can educate citizens 
- Wants increased communication between the city, police officers, and citizens

Public Safety

Supports projects that will make the area around the city's MARTA station more walkable

Plans to work with the Georgia Department Of Transportation to make sure that the traffic flow of main state roads does not cause further congestion of the city's streets

Supports the city's PDK airport while recognizing the challenge of limiting noise pollution from planes

- Supports projects that will make the area around the city's MARTA station more walkable
- Plans to work with the Georgia Department Of Transportation to make sure that the traffic flow of main state roads does not cause further congestion of the city's streets
- Supports the city's PDK airport while recognizing the challenge of limiting noise pollution from planes

Transportation & Infrastructure

Said that zoning requires a balance "between the needs of the community as a whole and the immediate surroundings of a property"

Promises to "listen to all sides of the issue" and to decide "what is best for the city, even if it is an unpopular decision"

- Said that zoning requires a balance "between the needs of the community as a whole and the immediate surroundings of a property"
- Promises to "listen to all sides of the issue" and to decide "what is best for the city, even if it is an unpopular decision"

Zoning

Van Pappas

- City council members work together with the rest of city council to set and implement city policy. 
- City council is tasked with ensuring the health, comfort, and safety of residents of the city 
- City council members work with the mayor to govern city departments, such as the police department, fire department, transportation department, and parks and recreation department. 
- City council members represent either the whole city or residents of a specific district. 
- Most city council members in Georgia are elected in odd years to four year terms. Elections are nonpartisan. 