John B. T. Campbell III

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John B. T. Campbell III bigraphy, stories - American politician

John B. T. Campbell III : biography

July 19, 1955 –

John Bayard Taylor Campbell III (born July 19, 1955) is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. On June 27, 2013, Campbell announced that he would not seek re-election in 2014.

Controversy

In 2009, several watchdog groups accused Rep. Campbell of taking $170,000 in campaign contributions (as well as $600,000 to $6,000,000 in rent) from used car dealers, and then introducing legislation exempting them from consumer protection laws.http://taxdollars.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/22/consumer-groups-blast-campbell-amendment-as-a-conflict/40659/

Political campaigns

After Congressman Christopher Cox resigned to become Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Campbell became a candidate to replace Cox in the 48th Congressional District Special Election, scheduled for October 4, 2005. Campbell received endorsements from most of the important Republican officials in the state but faced some criticism as his stance on illegal immigration was seen as being too lenient. Campbell faced a strong third-party challenge from American Independent Party candidate Jim Gilchrist. On October 4, Campbell garnered 45.5% of the vote, below the 50% needed to avoid a runoff. He faced Democrat Steve Young, American Independent Jim Gilchrist, Libertarian Bruce Cohen and Green Bea Tirtilli in the December 6 runoff, which he won with 44.4% of the vote. Campbell was sworn in on December 7.

Campbell was re-elected to his first full term in 2006 with 60% of the vote. In 2008 and 2010, he was re-elected with 55.7% and 59.9%, respectively, of the vote. In 2012, he was re-elected with 59.1% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee assignments

  • Committee on the Budget
  • Committee on Financial Services
    • Chairman, Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade
    • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
  • Joint Economic Committee

Party leadership and Caucus membership

  • Former Chairman of the Budget and Spending Task Force of the Republican Study Committee

On June 17, 2009, Campbell signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 1503, the bill introduced as a reaction to conspiracy theories which claimed that U.S. President Barack Obama is not a natural born U.S. citizen. Campbell stated on Hardball with Chris Matthews that he believed that Obama was a natural born U.S. citizen and that he believed the bill would end the conspiracy theories surrounding Obama’s citizenship.

On December 15, 2010, Campbell was one of fifteen Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing the United States military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" ban on openly gay service members.Chris Geidner, , Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010)., New York Times (December 15, 2010).

In 2011, Campbell voted against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a controversial provision that allows the government and the military to indefinitely detain American citizens and others without trial. He also sponsored the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Act which would make it easier for taxpayers to make donations to the federal government.

Business career

In 1985, Campbell became President and CEO of Campbell Automotive Group. In 1990, he became President and CEO of Saturn of Orange County. Campbell became Chairman and CEO of Saab of Orange County in 1999.

California Legislature

Elected to represent southern Orange County’s 70th District in the California State Assembly in 2000, Campbell won 60% of the vote in a five-way race to replace term-limited Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer. Campbell was reelected in 2002 with 67% of the vote.

In the 2004 race to replace the term-limited Ross Johnson in the 35th State Senate District, Campbell won the Republican primary with 61% of the vote against fellow Assemblyman Ken Maddox, who garnered only 30% of the vote. In the general election, Campbell won 64% of the vote.

As a Senator, Campbell served as Vice Chair of both the Business Professions and Economic Development Committee and the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee. He was also a member of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee; the Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee; the Environmental Quality Committee; and the Government Modernization, Efficiency, and Accountability Committee.