Bill Campbell (mayor)
Encyclopedia
Bill Campbell (born 1953 in Raleigh, North Carolina
), is a former American
politician, a member of the Democratic Party
, and served as the 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
, U.S.
, from 1994 to 2002. Campbell was the fifty-seventh mayor in the city's history and the third African American
to hold the office. In 1960, a seven-year-old Bill Campbell was the first black student to attend an all-white school in Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended William G. Enloe High School. He is the younger brother of former North Carolina State Auditor Ralph Campbell
. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
, to take the reins in the 1993 election, Campbell subsequently fell into disfavor during his second term, despite defeating then-president of the Atlanta City Council, Marvin S. Arrington, Sr.
. The 1997 race was known for its emphasis on the racial overtones often not publicly seen in the African-American community, with Campbell being the lighter-skinned candidate and Arrington the darker complexioned. Campbell would later be criticized for deploying anti-Black racist messaging in an attempt to deflect criticism of his record as mayor. Campbell was succeeded by Shirley Franklin
. Following his tenure as mayor, he moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
, where he worked as a practicing attorney. He was disbarred by order of the Supreme Court of Florida as a result of his tax evasion conviction.
to defend an indictment by a federal grand jury on racketeering, bribery
and wire fraud
charges after a five-year federal investigation into corruption during his years as mayor of Atlanta. Campbell was acquitted of the racketeering, bribery and wire fraud charges. On March 10, 2006, a federal jury convicted him on three counts of tax evasion
. On June 13, 2006, he was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story to 30 months in prison on charges of tax evasion and also ordered to serve a year on probation, pay a $6,000 fine, and pay more than $60,000 in back taxes. He reported to prison in Miami, Florida
, on August 21, 2006, after having several attempts to remain out on appeal bond denied by the court.
Campbell was released from prison and a halfway house on October 24, 2008.
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
), is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, and served as the 57th Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from 1994 to 2002. Campbell was the fifty-seventh mayor in the city's history and the third African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to hold the office. In 1960, a seven-year-old Bill Campbell was the first black student to attend an all-white school in Raleigh, North Carolina. He attended William G. Enloe High School. He is the younger brother of former North Carolina State Auditor Ralph Campbell
Ralph Campbell
Ralph A. Campbell, Jr. was for three terms the state auditor of North Carolina. A Democrat, Campbell was the first African-American to hold a state-wide elected executive office in North Carolina....
. He is a member of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
Mayor of Atlanta
Heartily endorsed by his predecessor, Maynard JacksonMaynard Jackson
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. was an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and the first African American mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. He served three terms, two consecutive terms from 1974 until 1982 and a third term from 1990 to 1994...
, to take the reins in the 1993 election, Campbell subsequently fell into disfavor during his second term, despite defeating then-president of the Atlanta City Council, Marvin S. Arrington, Sr.
Marvin S. Arrington, Sr.
Marvin Stephens Arrington, Sr. is an American judge in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia and a former politician in the city of Atlanta. Elected to the Atlanta Board of Aldermen in 1969 , he served as President of the Atlanta City Council for 17 years until his unsuccessful bid for...
. The 1997 race was known for its emphasis on the racial overtones often not publicly seen in the African-American community, with Campbell being the lighter-skinned candidate and Arrington the darker complexioned. Campbell would later be criticized for deploying anti-Black racist messaging in an attempt to deflect criticism of his record as mayor. Campbell was succeeded by Shirley Franklin
Shirley Franklin
Shirley Clarke Franklin is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from 2002 to 2010...
. Following his tenure as mayor, he moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
, where he worked as a practicing attorney. He was disbarred by order of the Supreme Court of Florida as a result of his tax evasion conviction.
Failure of Atlanta Empowerment Zone
In November 1994, the Atlanta Empowerment Zone was established, a 10-year, $250 million federal program to revitalize Atlanta's 34 poorest neighborhoods including the Bluff. Scathing reports from both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs revealed corruption, waste, bureaucratic incompetence, and specifically called out interference by mayor Campbell.Tax evasion conviction
In August 2004 Campbell retained high profile lawyer Billy MartinBilly Martin (lawyer)
William R. "Billy" Martin is an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney in the Washington, D.C. office . Martin joined the firm in 2011. His notable past clients have included NBA stars Allen Iverson and Jayson Williams, Monica Lewinsky's mother, and Chandra Levy's parents...
to defend an indictment by a federal grand jury on racketeering, bribery
Bribery
Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and wire fraud
Wire fraud
Mail and wire fraud is a federal crime in the United States. Together, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1346 reach any fraudulent scheme or artifice to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services with a nexus to mail or wire communication....
charges after a five-year federal investigation into corruption during his years as mayor of Atlanta. Campbell was acquitted of the racketeering, bribery and wire fraud charges. On March 10, 2006, a federal jury convicted him on three counts of tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
. On June 13, 2006, he was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Story to 30 months in prison on charges of tax evasion and also ordered to serve a year on probation, pay a $6,000 fine, and pay more than $60,000 in back taxes. He reported to prison in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, on August 21, 2006, after having several attempts to remain out on appeal bond denied by the court.
Campbell was released from prison and a halfway house on October 24, 2008.