Van Pappas ran for Chamblee mayor in 2017 but did not win.

Van is a certified financial planner. He works for oXYGen Financial. He previously worked at Crifasi Enterprises, Inc.

Van was raised in Sandy Springs. He has a bachelor's degree in fiannance from Georgia Southern. He has lived in Chamblee since 1999. He founded and is a member of the Chamblee Chamber of Commerce, is former chair and a member of the Chamblee Downtown Development Authority, was president of the Chamblee Business Association and was a member of the Chamblee Recreational Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Lori, have a son, Theo.