Ralph Campbell Jr.

Ralph A. Campbell, Jr. (December 7, 1946 – January 11, 2011) Was a three-term State Auditor of North Carolina. A Democrat, Campbell was the first African-American to hold statewide elected executive office in North Carolina. His brother Bill Campbell is the former mayor of Atlanta.

Early Life

Ralph Campbell Jr. was born in Raleigh, North Carolina to June Campbell and Ralph Campbell Sr. Both his parents were outspoken community activist. Ralph Campbell Sr. served as the president of the Wake County Chapter of The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and the Raleigh-Wake Citizens Association during the 1960’s. ^[1]Ralph Jr. grow up with two brothers and one sister. Sister Mildred, Brothers William (Bill), and Eddie attended Wake County Public Schools and graduated from William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh.^[2]Ralph's brother William Campbell was the first black student to attend an all-white public school in Raleigh. Mr and Ms Campbell requested that all of their children go at the time but only William was expected at the time. Members of the board of education at the time said that the best way to do this experiment was to start with the youngest child they could. The Campbell family had to deal with harassment and threats from the local chapter of the KKK. After graduating from William G. Enloe High School he attended St. Augustine’s College receiving a degree in business administration.

Business Career

He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1971 to 1977. From 1977-86 he worked as a field auditor for the North Carolina Department of Revenue, and from 1986-1990 as a plan auditor for the State Health Benefits Office. Campbell worked in the administration of the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

Political Career

Raleigh City Council

Campbell was first elected to the Raleigh City Council in 1985 and was re-elected three additional times, serving as mayor pro term in his final term. His last term was from 1989 to 1991.

State Auditor of North Carolina

Campbell decided not to run for a five-term on the Raleigh City Council instead choosing to run for statewide office he had decided to run for State Auditor. When Ralph first told his family that he would run for statewide office they were sceptical on what results would come of it. “When Ralph first told us he was going to run for statewide office, we were, like, ‘Come on’” Said Mildred Christmas, Campbell’s younger sister. Ralph Campbell would go on to win that election by almost seven points defeating his challenger Vernon Abernathy with a total of 53% of the vote going to Mr.Campbell. Ralph Campbell would spend the next 12-years he oversaw a staff that conducted about 3,600 audits, including some in the face of political pressure and bring. He also brought more technology to the office.^[3]

Ralph Campbell would be elected two more times with close margins. He won in 1996 by only 2.34% defeating three challengers Jack Daly (Republican), Robert J. Dorsey (Libertarian), and Theordore Janokowski (Natural Law). ^[4] By the slimmest margin of the year for a statewide candidate in North Carolina. He would win his third term in 2000 with only 30,000 more votes than his challenger Leslie “Les” Merritt.^[5] November 2, 2004, was the day Ralph lost his fourth and final election for State Auditor. Ralph Campbell Jr. lost by 0.87% Leslie “Les” Merritt how Mr.Campbell had batten just four years earlier slicked by him and ended his close to twenty years of being an elected official. Les Merritt would lose reelection in 2008 by seven points to Beth Wood. Beth Wood is the current State Auditor and won reelection by 8%. ^{[6] [7]}

His Passing

On January 11, 2011 Ralph Campbell Jr. lost his fight with lung cancer. It was easy to see the Ralph Campbell Sr. and June Campbell wanted the kids to change things and surely they had. William Campbell Ralph’s little brother was the first student to go to an all-white school in Raleigh. He would also later become mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Ralph would become the first African-American to win a statewide election in North Carolina. He then served honourably at his post both on the Raleigh City Council and as North Carolina State Auditor.^[8] His final words to his siblings were simple “He looked up at us, and he said ‘I love you’ and he looked at all three of us” said his younger sister Mildred. Following his death Ralph Campbell Jr. laid in rest in the State Capitol rotunda. Governor Berverly Perdie also ordered that all North Carolina flags at state facilities were to be flown at half-staff in his honour. ^[2]

“In 1963 my father took Mildred and Ralph to the march on Washington. Where they both heard that great speech by Dr King “I Have a Dream” and thirty years later Ralph fulfilled that dream by being elected the State Auditor…” William “Bill” Campbell at Ralph Campbell Jr. funeral.^[8]

'His entire life Ralph Campbell was gift to the people of North Carolina.” - Beverly Perdue ^[8]

References