Robert Campbell (California politician)
Robert Campbell | |
|---|---|
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 11th district | |
| In office December 1980 – December 1996 | |
| Succeeded by | Tom Torlakson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 20, 1937 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 2020 (aged 82) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Maria Viramontes |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | San Francisco State University |
| Occupation | Insurance executive, politician |
Robert Joseph Campbell[1] (December 20, 1937 – March 27, 2020) was an American politician who served 16 years in the California State Assembly, from 1980 to 1996. He represented the 11th district. He was a member of the Democratic Party.[2]
Early life
His family settled in Richmond, California, when he was a child. After high school graduation, he attended Contra Costa College and San Francisco State University, where he received a B.A. degree in 1961. He served in the U.S. Army and the California National Guard from 1961 to 1972. He worked in the insurance industry.[2]
Political career
He developed an interest in politics while still in college and worked on several election campaigns. He was elected to the Richmond city council in 1975. In 1980 he was elected to the state Assembly as a Democrat and won re-election seven times in the heavily Democratic district. His priorities were education and environmental protection. He chaired the Ways and Means subcommittee on education for six years and served on the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee for 15 years. He was often the author of bills involving funding for schools and community colleges.[3][4]
In 1996, unable to seek re-election to the California State Assembly due to term limits, he opted to run for California State Senate. However, Campbell did not run for his area senate seat, which had been made more competitive after the last redistricting. He chose to instead run in a neighboring district, which was much more Democratic, but went on to lose the Democratic primary to Assembly colleague Barbara Lee.[2] He was subsequently appointed to the California Coastal Commission by Assembly Speaker Cruz Bustamante.[5]
Personal life
Campbell was married to Maria Viramontes; they had four sons and a daughter. He was a vegetarian, nonsmoker, and nondrinker. He died of lung cancer on March 27, 2020.[6]
References
- ^ United Farm Workers of American, AFL-CIO 25th Anniversary Benefit
- ^ a b c Robert J. Campbell papers, California state archives
- ^ "College Funds OKed", Union Democrat, September 14, 1983
- ^ "Bill would abolish college fees", Modesto Bee, June 14, 1985
- ^ "Liberal Ex-Assemblyman Named to Coastal Panel; Environment: Republicans criticize Speaker Bustamante's interim appointment of Bob Campbell", Los Angeles Times, December 10, 1996
- ^ Prieve, Judith (March 27, 2020). "Former Assemblyman Bob Campbell succumbs to cancer". East Bay Times.
- 1937 births
- 2020 deaths
- Politicians from Los Angeles
- Richmond City Council members (California)
- Military personnel from California
- California Democrats
- San Francisco State University alumni
- University of California, Berkeley alumni
- 20th-century American politicians
- Members of the California State Assembly
- Deaths from lung cancer
- Deaths from cancer in California