Stanley Campbell, a trailblazer throughout his adult life, has ventured into various realms, encompassing rocket science, naval aviation, and golf course ownership. As a 19-year-old whiz kid at Florida A&M, he wrote the data reduction and aero-analysis for the Voyager 2 spacecraft and spent 8½ years as a Navy pilot after working briefly at NASA. Campbell’s diverse career has soared like the high-value corporate jets he once sold.
Adding another dimension to his already impressive resume, Campbell, who is the brother of well-known, legendary Hip-Hop Miami rapper “Uncle Luke”, is setting his sights on a new title: Florida Senate contender. Reportedly challenging former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell for the Democratic nomination, Campbell aims to unseat three-time statewide-elected former Florida governor, Rick Scott.
Despite his infrequent golf play, Campbell recently achieved a significant milestone, becoming one of the few Black golf course owners nationwide, with approximately 20 owners in total and only three in Florida. In 2021, he and his wife Cheryl acquired the 50-year-old Martin Downs Golf Club in Palm City, Florida, through an April auction with a bid of $1.35 million. He also owns Northgreen Country Club in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Both are PGA Championship courses, displaying Campbell’s visionary commitment to diversifying the golf course ownership landscape.
During an interview with Kerri-On-Golf, Campbell expressed his entrepreneurial aspirations, hoping to inspire a wave of golf course ownership among people of color. His goal is ambitious, aiming to stimulate three to five new golf course owners within the next two years, eventually reaching over 150 courses within the next 15 years.
Stanley Campbell’s journey encompasses more than golf ownership; it reflects a commitment to breaking barriers and creating opportunities. His candidacy for the Florida Senate adds a political dimension to a life marked by diverse achievements. The campaign website, stanleyforflorida.com, showcases his dedication to this new venture. As a dynamic figure with an influential personal story, Campbell’s potential impact on Florida politics is being closely watched by strategists like Kevin Cate, who recognizes the compelling nature of his candidacy.
“I’m going to do common-sense approaches to common problems,” Campbell said to tcpalm.com. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I’m all in.” Campbell most definitely understands what a daunting undertaking lies ahead, his contender Scott, who served two terms as Florida’s governor, spent $149.5 million combined in his past three races, according to NBC News. Campbell filed his qualifying paperwork Sept. 27 and his campaign website, stanleyforflorida.com
