Bill Campbell reluctantly talks to 11Alive News reporter Doug Richards, 4.25.11
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
"Well, I never really left Atlanta. This is my home," Campbell told us.
But as Bill Campbell knows better than most, he did leave Atlanta after he left the mayor's office nine years ago. He practiced law full-time in Florida. Then he went to federal prison, then a halfway house, following a tax evasion conviction.
"They could catch you or me or anybody else on that," said city councilwoman Cleta Winslow. She served with Campbell on the city council in the 80s -- and calls him a great mayor.
"I'm really just reconnecting with a lot of old friends I haven't seen in a long time," Campbell said. "So it's great to be back in a more substantial way."
We asked him if it was possible for him to re-enter public life. "Well, I don't think I ever left public life," he answered. He says he still supports candidates for public office who make "certain that the weak are uplifted, and that we have equity and we have a system of justice that works for all the people."
But Campbell cut short our conversation -- unwilling to talk about city government, or the 2006 prosecution.
"I don't want to say anything about anything. I'm just here enjoying my time," he said, turning away.
Campbell lives part-time in Atlanta. His family still lives in Florida. He lost his law license after a federal jury convicted him in 2006.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.
Monday, Bill Campbell attended an Atlanta Press Club event -- not exactly the venue to maintain a carefully guarded low profile. For a while, the former mayor seemed to be at its center -- accepting hugs and handshakes and posing for photos.