Governor Windom's staff in November 2001, she entered the 2002 race for State Auditor of Alabama, scoring an upset victory in the Republican primary, before winning the general election, capturing a seat previously held by Democrat Susan Parker.
[5] Montiel sought to have the Alabama Ethics Commission and the Attorney General review tens of thousands of dollars paid by Chapman's 2006 campaign to her husband and sons.
Attorney General Troy King, a fellow Republican, announced the complaint against Chapman does not appear to raise any violations of the law.
The Birmingham News, which had endorsed Chapman in her 2006 campaign,[9] rejected these arguments and sharply criticized her over the issue.
Her husband, James Chapman died on April 3, 2011, of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at the age of 50.