Campbell was an alderman in Sudbury and a member of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury council from 1976 to 1987.[2] He was vice-chair of the Sudbury Regional Health and Social Services Committee from 1976 to 1980, and chair of the Regional Welfare Board from 1982 to 1987. He was a candidate for mayor of the city in 1981, when council had to select a replacement for Jim Gordon, but withdrew in favour of Maurice Lamoureux.[3]
He returned to his teaching position in Sudbury after 1990. In 1997, Campbell joined the Ontario College Council representing the Northern Ontario secondary school sector. He had previously finished second in council elections, and joined the council after the resignation of Michel Gravelle. He retired in 1999, and moved to Campbell River, British Columbia on Vancouver Island in 2002.[2]