Chapman won’t seek 2nd term on Pullman City Council

PULLMAN – Pullman city councilman Brandon Chapman announced Monday he will not seek another term on the Pullman City Council. 

The first term council member serves Ward 3 in the city of Pullman, after winning the seat during the 2017 municipal elections. You can find his announcement from Monday afternoon here.

“I’m not going anywhere, so I’m still going to be around, still going to serve the community in other ways, and have some irons in the fire,” Chapman said. 

The next election isn’t for another eight months, but Chapman said he wants to give those who want to be his replacement plenty of time to consider a run at Ward 3. 

“I want people to feel like they could or should throw their name into the hat.” 

Chapman talked about a recent, contentious debate over the handling of a mural project in the heart of Pullman. 

The “End Racism Now” mural project faced backlash after Facebook users inferred a post by the Pullman Arts Commission was soliciting a public vote for the art to be used for the project. The post was later deleted and re-worded, though the perception of a “vote” remained, despite clarifications by the city. 

Last month, the city council voted to go back to square one on the project, seeking a recommendation from the arts commission, meant for final approval by the council, which was the guidance from the beginning. Chapman was one of two council members who voted against restarting the project.  

“That was kind of the last thing that exhibits what can happen to a person though, when these contentious issues come up,” he said. “For me, it was about a month and a half of pretty sleepless nights, meaning that you just don’t feel like you’re on the top of your game. It’s a constant worry in the back of your mind on making sure you do the right thing.” 

Prior city council agendas and guidance to the arts commission were clear when the project initially launched in July of 2020, but that hasn’t tempered much of the public reaction. 

“Was is the reason? No it absolutely wasn’t,” he said, “but it was kind of a microcosm of the whole way things can end up spiraling down a path in your life and with your family that you don’t ever anticipate.” 

Chapman is the director of marketing and communications for the WSU College of Education, and said he’ll remain involved in improving the city of Pullman.