As a civil rights era came to rest with the death of Coretta Scott King, in a downtown federal courthouse only a mile away from Auburn Avenue, another Atlanta era is ending with much less fan fare. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell is on trial for 11 counts of bribery, racketeering, and fraud, before a jury of seven blacks, and five whites.
Atlanta’s first, and third serving Black mayor Maynard Jackson, represented Atlanta’s old connections, while its second, Andy Young, personified the city’s long racial history. But Bill Campbell … he embodied Atlanta’s ‘New Black Mecca.’ Not Atlanta born, nor a ‘Morehouse Man,’ – both requisites for acceptance into Atlanta’s Black power base – Campbell shroud his Duke Law degree with Jackson’s shrewdness and Young’s brilliance. Add that he was fine and high-yella, double dipped with Denzel’s eyes, smile, and charm … after a twelve-year term on Atlanta’s city council, with Jackson’s anointing, he was elected mayor. Surprise. Surprise.
Overnight Atlanta and City Hall began to reflect the hip-hop flash of its mayor, and the economic boom that comes when the mayor, governor, and U.S. President are all of the same party. There was Freaknik, and Philips Arena. Housing projects disappeared, while high-rise condominiums appeared. Buckhead clogged, but the Olympics bought a largess and Centennial Park. Noted Clark Atlanta University Professor Bob Holmes to WXIA Channel 11, ‘The economic development during Campbell’s era was greater than Jackson and Young’s eras combined.’
But Campbell’s successes had costs. From a Creative Loafing November 14, 2001 article – ‘Campbell left the city with a high budget deficit, partly due to waste, raises, cut property taxes, and charging current operating costs to future years.’
Another cost, while he was in office, there were rumors of corruption in the way Campbell did business, especially during the Olympics. Then there were philandering charges … did I mention that a San Fran girlfriend called me once screaming ‘girl, your mayor is walking out of this party with so and so and they got two girls, and …’ And in the midst of all this, the federal government began their seven year investigation.
The overwhelming majority of people in Atlanta didn’t seem to care if Campbell was shaky or if he cheated on his wife. He was good by them, so he was reelected. Even when Campbell played the blame game, which is not a race thing, but played the race card, which is, they said ‘Amen.’ Campbell said the feds were harassing him like he was Martin Luther King, Jr. There is truism to government harassment of Blacks, but why don’t Black politicians say that after the evidence proves they’re guilty? Anyway, all the rumors, the investigation, the denial of guilt, the cheating charges, the blame game, and race card … that resonates. Takes it toll. Has a cost. Even in the city billed ‘too busy to hate.’
So the Atlanta Journal Constitution says the city is racially divided on whether he’s guilty or innocent. That surprises me. Most people I know made up their minds years ago. He’s at least guilty by association or stupidity. The racial division just comes on whether he will be convicted. That’s America. Me, I’m waiting to hear all the evidence. I’m funny that way.
Whatever the verdict, though, when the trial is over and we wish Campbell well, an era will be laid to rest in City Hall. For as much as Campbell boosted Atlanta’s economics and brought the world to a small southern city, since current Mayor Shirley Franklin cleaned the office, and no, that’s not a typo, a new way to do business has been instituted over City Hall. It’s not charming or suave, just nose to the grindstone. That smells like integrity. It’s priceless. Open. Fair. And not for sale.
