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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Longtime Local Democratic Party Official Carol Campbell Dies
UPDATED WITH NEW INFORMATION:

Carol Ann Campbell, a legendary force in the local Democratic Party, has passed away.


She died around midday at Methodist hospital. The cause is unknown, but she’d struggled with lung illnesses and was recently on a ventilator.


Campbell was the daughter of Edgar Campbell, former City Councilman, ward leader and Clerk of Quarter Sessions and often referred to as the Dean of Black Politics in the city. Carol Campbell took over the leadership of the fourth ward in Philadelphia when her father died in 1987

Campbell served as a ward leader and as secretary of Democratic City Committee for years. In the fall of 2006, Campbell was appointed by the Democratic Party to lead the Fourth District, after Mayor Nutter vacated the seat to run for the city's top office. She lost her re-election bid in the May 2007 Primary Election to Councilman Curtis Jones Jr.

Campbell has often been confined to a wheelchair in recent years. Reports of her age varied, ranging from 64 to 70. But Campbell herself would not state her age.

Jones said he was saddened by Campbell's death.

"When you fight someone for a long time, you get to know them and you get to respect them," Jones said. "Was she a perfect servant? No. She was a public servant."

Jones added that nobody could replace Campbell in the local Democratic party.

"She was the whip of the party," he said. "She would call you up. She worked the phones like no one else."

Here's a statement on Campbell's death released by Jones.

STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER COUNCILWOMAN CAROL ANN CAMPBELL

“Today is a sad day in Philadelphia. A titan has transitioned. She was well respected by friend and foe alike. During her tenure in City Council she was responsible for several important pieces of legislation including the creation of the Committee of the Disabled and being a staunch advocate for the handicapped and creating the 4th District Basic System Repair Program. She was an advocate for the less fortunate. She challenged the status quo and had a distinguished career learning her trade from her late father Edgar Campbell. She will be forever considered as an advocate for those things she believed in.”
Posted by Catherine Lucey @ 3:51 PM  Permalink |
About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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Catherine Lucey
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