About Maria

Maria Chappelle-Nadal

Maria Chappelle-Nadal is a dedicated community advocate and a champion of social and economic justice. Born and raised in University City, Missouri, she is the daughter of a small business owner and public housing activist. From a young age, Maria’s parents taught her how to bring people together and solve the problems in her community. As a latchkey kid, Maria also learned the value of self-sufficiency.

Before being elected to the Missouri Senate, Maria served as the Director of Boards and Commissions in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. In this role, she helped pass the Senior Care & Protection Act and the MO Senior Rx Generic Drug Rebate. Maria served in the Missouri House of Representatives, the Missouri State Senate, as well as a school board member in University City.

Maria's commitment to public service started as a teenager when she volunteered in the summers helping young children who lived in public housing in south city. Her commitment to the people of St. Louis is self-evident. In 2014, she was at the center of the Ferguson Uprising protests. These protests shed light on the inequities found in the municipal justice system that are still ingrained and reflected in our government today. Maria continues to speak up about the institutional and systemic inequalities that persist.

Maria is a multidimensional policy expert whose legislative record is marked by her bold stances on issues like healthcare, criminal justice reform, and economic empowerment. Maria is a leading voice, educator and policy expert in the fight for environmental justice and conservation. She has distinquished herself by fighting to raise awareness of the massive radioactive waste problem in St.Louis County and the severe health issues it’s caused the people living in the St. Louis region for 15 years. Her work has also highlighted how Missouri’s radioactive waste issues have led to economic disparities, a families’ ability to have children, and further increases socio-economic inequality.

As thousands of St. Louisans lose access to health coverage due to draconian policies in Washington, DC, Maria has a plan to help those most in need of healthcare. Unfortunately, the current County Council is seeking to cut healthcare access at a time when it should be expanded locally.

As a courageous and bold leader, Maria —unafraid to speak truth to power and challenge the status quo— is in pursuit of a more just and equitable society. As your Councilwoman, Maria will fight for a healthy environment for all St. Louisans and bring much needed resources to St. Louis by working with her colleagues, experts and leaders at all levels of government.