Ronnie Campbell
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from the 24th district
In office
January 2, 2019 – December 13, 2022
Preceded byBen Cline
Succeeded byEllen Campbell
Personal details
BornFebruary 16, 1954
Waynesboro, Virginia, U.S.
Died (aged 68)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEllen Campbell
Children5
Alma materEast Tennessee State University
Virginia Commonwealth University

Ronnie Ray Campbell (February 16, 1954 – December 13, 2022) was an American politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, first elected in a special election in 2018. Campbell represented the 24th district comprising Rockbridge and Bath Counties, parts of Amherst and Augusta Counties, and the independent cities of Lexington and Buena Vista.

Early life and career

Campbell was born, on February 16, 1954, in Waynesboro, Virginia.[1] He received a bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University in 1976, majoring in criminal science. After that, he became a Virginia State Police officer, working in Northern Virginia.[2][3]

Political career

Campbell spent ten years on the Rockbridge County School Board. In 2012, he was elected to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors.[4]

In November 2018, 24th district state delegate Ben Cline was elected to the United States House of Representatives, triggering a special election for his state house seat. The local Republican party held a firehouse primary to choose their nominee. Campbell won the primary by a one-vote margin, defeating Amherst County Supervisor Jimmy Ayers and two other candidates.[5] In the December 2018 special election, Campbell defeated lawyer and activist Christian Worth by a 59% to 40% margin.[2]

Campbell was sworn into office on January 2, 2019, a week before the 2019 legislative session started.[6]

2020–21 United States election protests

Campbell was one of three GOP delegates in Virginia that sent a letter to Vice President Pence asking him to delay the certification of the state's election results, which gave President-elect Joe Biden the win and Virginia's 13 electoral votes, until an audit of the election could be completed. The letter included two co-signers, Del. Dave LaRock (R-Loudoun) and Del. Mark Cole (R-Spotsylvania), requesting “a stay of any designation of Presidential Electors from our state until such time as a comprehensive forensic audit of the November 3, 2020, election has taken place to determine the actual winner.”[7] On January 13, a Virginia Circuit Court issued a consent order agreeing with one of the major points of the letter, that the conduct of the 2020 election was contrary to Virginia law.[8]

Personal life and death

Campbell died of cancer on December 13, 2022, at the age of 68.[9] Campbell was succeeded in the House of Delegates by his wife Ellen, who won a January 2023 special election.[10] They had five children.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bio for Ronnie R. Campbell". Virginia House of Delegates. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  2. 1 2 Fair, Julia (December 20, 2018). "Special election fills House of Delegates seat with Ronnie Campbell". Staunton News Leader. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ The Honorable Ronnie Ray Campbell-obituary
  4. ↑ Friedenberger, Amy (December 18, 2018). "Republican Ronnie Campbell defeats Democrat Christian Worth in special election". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Lynn (November 18, 2018). "No Recount for 24th District, Ronnie Campbell's Win Holds – Updated". Bearing Drift. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  6. ↑ Dashiell, Joe (January 3, 2019). "New 24th District Delegate gets to work". WDBJ. Roanoke. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ Mercury, Ariana Figueroa and Laura Olson/Virginia. "Dozens of GOP lawmakers, including at least two Virginians, will reject certifying Biden as president". Fauquier Times. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ "Judge bans Virginia's practice of accepting ballots without postmarks after Election Day". potomaclocal.com. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Rockbridge Del. Ronnie Campbell dies, mourned as 'dedicated public servant'". News Leader. December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  10. ↑ Ganesh, Akhil (January 10, 2023). "Republican Ellen Campbell wins special election for 24th district delegate seat". Staunton News Leader. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
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