Lakewood native Joe Chaplik finding new challenges as Arizona lawmaker

Lakewood native Joe Chaplik, son Aiden, wife Alexandra and son Chase live in Scottsdale, Ariz

(Left to right) Lakewood native Joe Chaplik, son Aiden, wife Alexandra and son Chase live in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Photo Courtesy of Joseph Chaplik)

LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- More than a quarter of a century has passed since Lakewood native Joe Chaplik headed west to explore life and find new challenges.

Today, the 1989 Lakewood High School graduate -- by way of Los Angeles, Portland, Ore., and now Scottsdale, Ariz. -- is still driven by the same goals.

Already a successful businessman who owns Joseph Bernard Investment Real Estate, which specializes in multi-family investments and has experience with over $1 billion in sales volume, Chaplik recently turned his attention to politics.

In 2020, he won the Republican primary election against a three-time incumbent in Arizona’s Legislative District 23 before winning the seat with more than 80,000 votes later the same year.

Chaplik never dreamed of being involved in politics while growing up in Lakewood. In fact, initially he was planning on enforcing the law over becoming a lawmaker.

“I moved to Scottsdale in 2011, got married and had two kids,” said Chaplik, who graduated in 1993 from Bowling Green State University with a degree in sociology and criminal justice. “Business was good. My career was good, but I decided to get involved in politics.

“Everybody kind of knew I was staying attentive to what’s going on in politics. My family back home was excited. They encouraged me as well.”

When Chaplik thinks back to high school, he said playing sports -- being a four-year wrestler and playing freshman football -- prepared him for whatever obstacles he would later face in life.

“Even in the sporting world, you always have that need to compete,” Chaplik said. “Playing sports in high school kind of geared you up for your challenges and how to overcome those and accomplish goals.”

The same is true for Lakewood, which -- while he left at the age of 22 -- still plays an important part in his life.

“I came from a blue-collar, middle-class family that instilled a work ethic, more than anything,” Chaplik said. “That work ethic carried on throughout the career and right into the political campaign of hustling and accomplishing goals.

“A lot of what I remember about Lakewood is it’s a hardworking community where you have to earn your keep.”

As far as life in Arizona, Chaplik said geographically speaking, it’s obviously quite different from Ohio, with plenty of year-round outdoor activities. He often sees other Buckeye State transplants.

“It’s a big Buckeye nation,” Chaplik said. “There’s an Ohio everywhere. And Ohio is always my home state. There are great qualities of Cleveland and everything it offers when you’re growing up there. I miss the hometown”

Pre-pandemic, Chaplik and wife, Alexandra, with sons Aiden and Chase, visited his mother and sisters once a year. Now, the conversation has changed, with the family selling the French Avenue home his mother and father first purchased in 1963.

Chaplik said the big takeaway from his story is encouraging younger readers to think big in life.

“It’s a lot about leaving the nest,” Chaplik said. “The biggest thing is, there are opportunities in this country for you if you’re willing to leave your home, go explore, find new challenges and succeed.”

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