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Ralph Campbell, Jr.




Ralph A. Campbell, Jr. (born 7 December 1946 ) was for three terms the state auditor of North Carolina . A Democrat , Campbell is the first African-American to hold a state-wide elected office in North Carolina.

Campbell is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina and an alumnus of St. Augustine's College, holding a degree in business administration. His younger brother is former Atlanta, Georgia Mayor Bill Campbell . He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1971 to 1977 . From 1977 to 1986 , he worked as a field auditor for the North Carolina Department of Revenue, and from 1986 to 1990 , as a plan auditor for the State Health Benefits Office. Between 1990 and 1992 , Campbell worked in the administration of the North Carolina Department of Insurance.

Campbell was first elected to the Raleigh City Council in 1985 and was re-elected three additional times, serving as mayor Pro Tem in his final term, from 1989 to 1991 . In 1992 , he ran for the office of State Auditor and became the first African-American to hold a statewide elected office in North Carolina . Campbell was re-elected to the same office in 1996 and 2000 .

Campbell sought a fourth term in the 2004 Council Of State Elections , but was narrowly defeated by Les Merritt .