Skip Campbell | |
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Mayor of Coral Springs | |
Assumed office November 14, 2014 |
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Preceded by | Vincent Boccard |
Member of the Florida Senate from the 32nd district |
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In office November 19, 2002 – November 21, 2006 |
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Preceded by | Debbie Wasserman Schultz |
Succeeded by | Jeremy Ring |
Member of the Florida Senate from the 33rd district |
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In office November 19, 1996 – November 19, 2002 |
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Preceded by | Peter Weinstein |
Succeeded by | Frederica Wilson |
Personal details | |
Born |
Rockaway Beach, New York |
November 12, 1948
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Lynn Satin |
Alma mater |
University of Florida (B.A.) University of Florida (J.D.) |
Profession | Attorney |
Religion | Catholicism |
Walter G. "Skip" Campbell, Jr. (born November 12, 1948) is a Democratic politician who currently serves as the Mayor of Coral Springs, Florida. Prior to his election as Mayor, he served as a member of the Florida Senate from 1996 to 2006.
Campbell was born in Rockaway Beach, New York in 1948 and moved to Florida in 1961. He attended the St. John Vianney College Seminary, receiving his associate degree, and then the University of Florida, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his Juris Doctor in 1973. Campbell founded the law firm Krupnick & Campbell, now known as Krupnick Campbell Malone Buser Slama Hancock Liberman, with Jon Krupnick in 1975. He worked as an adjunct professor at the Shepard Broad Law Center and served as President of the Broward County Bar Association and as a member of the Florida Election Commission. As a private practice attorney, he sued DuPont over fungicide-caused crop damage, took up medical malpractice cases, and filed a lawsuit "that helped trigger design changes in cars to prevent doors from flying open in accidents."
In 1996, incumbent State Senator Peter Weinstein declined to seek re-election to instead unsuccessfully run for Congress. Campbell ran to succeed him in the 33rd District, which included northwestern Broward County. He faced State Representative Steven Feren in the Democratic primary. Both Campbell and Feren campaigned in support of funding for public education, crime prevention, and property insurance reform. Campbell attacked Feren for living outside of the Senate district, for few legislative accomplishments in the Florida House, and for his close relationship with "special-interest groups." Feren, meanwhile, criticized Campbell for being out of touch due to his personal wealth and for using "distortions and mistruths and outright lies" against him. During the campaign, Campbell was endorsed by the Sun-Sentinel, which praised his "penchant for leadership" and his "potential to emerge as one of the state's leading legislators," though they praised Feren for being "a responsible public servant." Ultimately, Campbell defeated Feren comfortably, winning 59% of the vote to Feren's 41%.