Summary
Current Position: State Senator of District 38 since 2014
Affiliation: Republican
Former Position: State Delegate from 2013 – 2014
Benton Chafin is a strong advocate who will fight bad policy from Richmond and Washington that undermines our values, our coal industries, and our jobs.
As a strong advocate for Southwest Virginia in the House and the Senate, Ben successfully sponsored and passed a bill that counters the EPA’s assault on our coal jobs. He has voted to defend our 2nd Amendment rights, voted against tax increases, and stood for life and traditional marriage.
OnAir Post: Benton Chafin
About
Source: Campaign page
Ben Chafin currently represents the 38th District in the Senate of Virginia. He was first elected to the Senate in 2014. Before being elected to the Senate, Ben served the 4th District in the Virginia House of Delegates.Southwest Virginia needs a strong advocate who will fight bad policy from Richmond and Washington that undermines our values, our coal industries, and our jobs.
As a strong advocate for Southwest Virginia in the House and the Senate, Ben successfully sponsored and passed a bill that counters the EPA’s assault on our coal jobs. He has voted to defend our 2nd Amendment rights, voted against tax increases, and stood for life and traditional marriage.
Ben Chafin is a native of Russell County. As a child, he worked on his family farm. As a teenager, he worked part-time after school at a local meat packing plant. Ben attended East Tennessee State University (B.A., 1982) so he could fulfill his obligations to the family farm by returning home most weekends. After earning his degree, he attended the University of Richmond School of Law (J.D., 1985). Ben and his sister were the first in his family to graduate from college.
Returning to Russell County after earning his law degree, Ben started Chafin & Chafin PC, now Chafin Law Firm PC, which is located across from the courthouse in Lebanon. He practices law throughout Southwest Virginia.
Ben is the owner and operator of a beef-cattle farm in Moccasin Valley. He serves on the the board of First Bank & Trust Company, which has branches throughout Virginia and Eastern Tennessee. Ben is a current member and former president of the Russell County Rotary. He is also an avid outdoorsman who regularly enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, and camping.
Ben is married to Lora Lee (Carr) Chafin, a teacher in Russell County Public Schools. A Russell County native, Lora has dedicated her life to helping students learn. Ben and Lora are the proud parents of three children. The Chafin family worships at Community Heights Church in Lebanon.
Experience
Work Experience
- Attorney
Education
- Jd
University of Richmond - BA
East Tennessee State University
Personal
Born in Abingdon, Virginia on May 18, 1960
Married Lora Carr Chafin
Membership & Affiliation
Community Heights Church in Lebanon.
Contact
Legislative Assistants: Matthew Ogburn, Tamara Plaster
Email:
- Government – district38@senate.virginia.gov
Offices
Capitol Office
Pocahontas Building
Room No: E514
Senate of Virginia
P. O. Box 396
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: (804) 698-7538
District Office
P. O. Box 1210
Lebanon, VA 24266
Phone: (276) 889-1044
Fax: (276) 889-1121
Web
Government Page, Campaign Site, Facebook
Politics
Source: Wikipedia
Chafin established his own law firm in 1986. He represented the Russell County Industrial Development Authority as counsel.
Chafin was elected to represent the fourth district in the Virginia House of Delegates in the 2013 elections. He ran in a special election to the Virginia Senate. He was elected with 59.55% of the vote on August 19, 2014, in a special election. Chafin’s victory tipped control of the Virginia Senate back to the Republicans, 21 to 19, after Democrats won control with the swearing-in of Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northamfollowing the 2013 general election.
Chafin succeeded Democrat Phillip Puckett, who resigned his seat following the 2014 General Assembly regular session. Previously, Chafin had represented the Fourth District in the Virginia House of Delegates, to which he was elected without opposition in November 2013, succeeding conservative Democrat Joseph P. Johnson. The Fourth comprises Dickenson County and parts of Russell, Wise, and Washington Counties.
Recent Elections
2019
| A. Benton Chafin, Jr. (R) | 30,295 | 63.52% |
| George W. McCall III () | 16,874 | 35.38% |
| Write-In (Write-in) | 521 | 1.09% |
| TOTAL | 47,690 |
2015
| Benton Chafin (R) | 31,025 | 98.3% |
| Write In (Write-in) | 537 | 1.7% |
| TOTAL | 31,562 |
Source: Virginia Legislative Information System
Finances
CHAFIN JR, A BENTON has run in 3 races for public office, winning 3 of them. The candidate has raised a total of $1,207,229.
Source: Follow the Money
Committees
Committees
Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Commerce and Labor
Courts of Justice
Privileges and Elections
Rehabilitation and Social Services
Appointments
Appalachian Region Interstate Compact Commission
Coal and Energy, Virginia Commission on
Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation
Southwest Virginia Health Authority
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center Board of Trustees
Southwest Virginia Public Education Consortium Governing Board
Subcommittee #1 Agriculture
Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission
Volunteer Firefighter’s and Rescue Squad Worker’s Service Award Fund Board
Voting Record
See: Vote Smart
New Legislation
Source: Virginia Legislative Information System
Issues
Source: Campaign page
Civil Rights
Ben Chafin has a consistent and steadfast record of defending our Second Amendment rights and protecting your right to bear arms. Ben is a hunter and avid outdoorsman who will always fight to protect our Constitutional gun rights.
Economy
As a small business owner, member of the Tobacco Commission, and leader in economic development, Ben Chafin has focused on growing industries and creating jobs in Southwest Virginia. In addition to supporting current industries and jobs in Southwest Virginia, it is paramount we towards diversifying the economy and creating new jobs in Southwest Virginia.That is exactly what Ben Chafin has been doing in the General Assembly. A strong supporter of projects like the Clinch River State Park and Spearhead Trails, Ben has sponsored legislation and budget amendments in order to help the growing tourism industry in Southwest Virginia. As your representative, Ben works very closely with local governments, economic development and tourism agencies, and Industrial Development Authorities to promote the region to prospective employers to bring new jobs to Southwest Virginia.Ben Chafin knows that over-burdensome government regulation hurts the economy and stunts job growth. Ben will focus on eliminating job-killing regulations, fighting for lower taxes, and creating an environment where business can thrive.
Education
As your representative, one of Senator Chafin’s top priorities is education. Since he was first elected, he has successfully carried several pieces of legislation and budget amendments to increase teacher salaries and bring more school funding to Southwest Virginia.In recognition of his hard work supporting education, the Virginia Education Association named Senator Chafin the 2016 Legislator of the Year and awarded him his third consecutive Education Legislative Champion Award.During the 2016 General Assembly Session, Senator Chafin carried legislation creating a statewide health insurance pool for local governments and school systems. The new plan will give localities the option to pool their employees together in order to reduce insurance costs, creating more stability for the localities and their employees.It is fiscally conservative and cost effective to allow these localities to buy into the new plan rather than purchase their own smaller health insurance plan. Most importantly, teachers, school employees, and local employees will likely see lower health insurance costs resulting in more take home pay. It is a common sense solution that will help local budgets while also helping teachers and local employees.
Life and Traditional Marriage
We live in a time where the values and institutions of Southwest Virginia are ignored by Richmond, Washington, and the media. Ben Chafin is a man of faith who is devoted to preserving the family and defending our traditional values. Ben believes that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman, that life begins at conception, and that our freedom to worship God and express our faith must be protected. Ben will continue to stand up for our values and defend our institutions as your representative in Richmond.
