Peter Schorsch
Coral Springs Mayor Walter “Skip” Campbell has died at the age of 69.
Campbell became mayor in 2014 and was re-elected in 2016, but he had been living in Coral Springs for more than 30 years. The cause of death is unknown, though Campbell recently underwent hip replacement surgery.
Campbell also ran as the Democratic nominee for Florida attorney general in 2006 but lost to former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum.
In a statement Wednesday morning, South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz called Campbell a “giant” of justice and public service.
Tuesday night, Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for Florida Governor, said: “Sending my condolences tonight to the family of Coral Springs Mayor and former Senator Skip Campbell, a statesman in the Sunshine State.”
Sending my condolences tonight to the family of Coral Springs Mayor & former Senator Skip Campbell, a statesman in the Sunshine State.
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) October 24, 2018
Former Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler said: “Skip was a great public servant, lawyer, leader, mentor, and role model to many. Skip was truly special, and his passing is a tremendous loss to our community and the State. May God bless Skip and his family.”
Politicians of from the other side of the aisle also expressed their condolences and fond remembrances of Campbell. Among them was Alan Levine, who served as the secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration during Campbell’s time in the state Senate.
“Senator Campbell was a great man. I worked with him when he was in the Senate and I was Secretary of AHCA. From opposite parties, but he was always willing to help, was fair and played by an honorable set of rules. A huge loss. A good public servant,” Levine said via Twitter Wednesday morning.
Senator Campbell was a great man. I worked with him when he was in the Senate and I was Secretary of AHCA. From opposite parties, but he was always willing to help, was fair and played by an honorable set of rules. A huge loss. A good public servant. https://t.co/qMPLVH0Vw5
— Alan Levine (@alevine014) October 24, 2018
According to CoralSprings.org, Campbell was born in Rockaway Beach, New York. He graduated from the University of Florida’s Law School in 1973. He has been president of the Broward County Bar Association, president of the Broward County Young Lawyers Association, and president of the Federal Bar Association of Broward County.
Campbell co-founded the law firm Krupnick & Campbell in 1975. It is now known as Krupnick Campbell Malone Buser Slama Hancock Liberman.
Born in New York, Campbell graduated from the University of Florida’s law school in 1973 and co-founded a law firm.
In 1996, Campbell ran for the Florida Senate and won. There, he spent 10 years representing the 32nd District, which covers Coral Springs, Davie and Weston. He won the seat again in 2000.
Campbell’s political career was marked by his support of consumer protections, increased civil liberties and support for stricter gun control measures. The latter of those positions was in the public spotlight earlier this year following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which is adjacent to Coral Springs.
