Meet Chimene Schwach

Pictured: Paula Schwach (mother), Chimene, husband Jim, and sons Zachery and Jacob

Chimene has worked in social services most of her adult life, currently, most recently as an Advocate Supervisor for CASA, working to find permanency for children in protective custody. Chimene has lived in Columbia for 12 years with her husband Jim, their two sons, and their black lab, Remi. The Schwach-Wright family are proud supporters of Columbia Public Schools with their sons attending West Middle and Hickman. They are also active parishioners and attend services at St. Thomas More Newman Center.

"I decided to run for office because I have been active in our community at both the city and county level working on the issues we all care about: education, economic growth, civil rights, and reproductive justice. Over the past few years, it has been clear that all these issues intersect at our state level where the supermajority has intervened to take away local control. I want to change that."

Chimene attended undergraduate at Missouri State University (Go Bears!) in Springfield and received BS in Communication Sciences and Disorders with an emphasis in Audiology and Education of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students. Chimene received her MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from New York University. While attending university, Chimene worked in commercial and residential construction retail in Kansas City, often being the only woman on the worksite.

After graduate school, Chimene began working her way up through various social service not-for-profits in the Kansas City area and volunteering in the community, She was the volunteer of the year for Planned Parenthood in 2006. She also earned a certification in Drug and Alcohol counselling after interning for the VA in Kansas. She worked for various social and behavior health organizations during which she met and married Jim, and started a family.

Since moving to Columbia in 2006, she has worked for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church as the director of aftercare (afterschool program), Ragtag Film Society as Manager of Education and Outreach, and Heart of Missouri CASA as a Boone County Advocate Supervisor. She also is the president for Blue Thunder Track Club, she is on the board for Southwest Swim Club, and on the board for Missouri Family Health Council statewide. She is also elected to represent 4th Ward Columbia for the Boone County Democratic Central Committee.

Chimene understands firsthand the need for everyone to have access to both affordable medical care and housing. She knows what it’s like to wonder if you can pay your mortgage or buy your medicine. Everybody should be able to see a doctor when they need one without wondering if it’s going to impact their job or prevent them from providing for their family. As a state representative, she is dedicated to fighting for the collective good.

Supporting people in our community means
✔ defending the health safety net
✔ defending reproductive health
✔ fighting for common-sense gun laws
✔ supporting full funding for equitable public education that is culturally responsive to all students
✔ demanding fair living wages and affordable housing
✔ and supporting paid family leave

As Democrats, we understand that we're under an antagonistic administration, but now with redrawn districts for 2022, we have the opportunity to break the supermajority in the state legislature, put a stop to bad bills, and effect real change.

With Representative Martha Stevens’ and Auditor Nicole Galloway’s encouragement, Chimene plans to take up the issues Democrats have championed and fought for in the legislature. We need continued representation and a strong, dedicated voice to represent the most vulnerable in our society. With your support, Chimene can be that voice.

There is a lot to do: the campaign still needs to hire field staff and get our message out. This campaign is going to be funded by grassroots Democratic supporters who believe in our message, people like you.

Meet Chimene Schwach

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