Tom Campbell

:This article is about the California politician, for the Scottish poet, see: Thomas Campbell

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Thomas J. Campbell (b. August 14, 1952) has been the Director of Finance for the State of California since December 1, 2004. Since 2002, he has been the dean of the Haas School of Business and a professor of business administration at the University of California, Berkeley; he is currently on leave. He served five nonconsecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican.

Related Topics:
August 14 - 1952 - State of California - December 1 - 2004 - 2002 - Haas School of Business - Business administration - University of California, Berkeley - United States House of Representatives - Republican

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Born in Chicago, Campbell obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Chicago (1973) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (1976). He returned to the University of Chicago to earn a Ph.D. in economics in 1980. His mentor was Milton Friedman. He became a Republican during college, though born to a Democratic family.

Related Topics:
Chicago - University of Chicago - Harvard Law School - Milton Friedman - Democratic

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Campbell was admitted to the bar in 1976 and commenced practice in Chicago. He was a White House Fellow in the office of the chief of staff and White House counsel (1980-1981). He then served as director of the Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission (1981-1983).

Related Topics:
White House Fellow - Federal Trade Commission

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Campbell became a law professor at Stanford University in 1983, becoming the youngest professor ever awarded tenure at Stanford. He took a leave of absence in 1988 to run for the Republican nomination in California's 12th Congressional District, which included his home in Campbell, just outside San Jose. He won and served two terms before making an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by Alan Cranston. He won a special election for the California State Senate in 1993 and served there until 1995. That year, 15th District Congressman Norman Mineta unexpectedly resigned. Campbell's home had been redrawn into this San Jose-based district, and he ran in the special election. Mineta had held the seat since 1975, and it was widely considered a safe Democratic district. However, the Democrats rested on their laurels, and Campbell managed to win by a large margin. He won the seat in his own right almost as easily in 1996 and was handily reelected in 1998. Throughout his elective career, Campbell represented districts that were predominantly Democratic. He was one of the most liberal Republicans in Congress. He was pro-choice on abortion and was strongly supportive of gun control and gay rights. He was also a vehment opponent of the war on drugs.

Related Topics:
Stanford University - 1983 - 1988 - Campbell - San Jose - Senate - Alan Cranston - California State Senate - 1993 - 1995 - Norman Mineta - 1975 - 1996 - 1998

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In 2000, Campbell won the Republican nomination to take on Senator Dianne Feinstein. However, he faced almost impossible odds in a state which had swung heavily to the Democrats in the previous decade. It didn't help that he had voted for two of the four articles of impeachment against Bill Clinton shortly after being reelected to his second full Congressional term. During the impeachment debate, Campbell suggested that Clinton's misleading statements about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky had incapacitated him from serving as president. Campbell was heavily defeated, losing by over 19 points. He then returned to Stanford, serving there until his appointment at rival Cal-Berkeley in 2002.

Related Topics:
2000 - Senator - Dianne Feinstein - Bill Clinton - Monica Lewinsky

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As Dean of the Haas School, Campbell stressed the study of corporate social responsibility and business ethics amid an era of corporate scandals. A full-fledged Center for Responsible Business was established. In September 2004, Campbell was named by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to his newly formed Council of Economic Advisors.

Related Topics:
Business ethics - September 2004 - California Governor - Arnold Schwarzenegger

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On November 4, 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Campbell director of the California Department of Finance. Campbell took a leave of absence from his university post and assumed his new position on December 1.

Related Topics:
November 4 - 2004

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