Robert L. Turner (born September 14, 1947), is a former
Democratic member of the
Wisconsin State Assembly, serving eleven terms from 1991 to 2013.[1] Turner currently serves on the
City of Racine Police and Fire Commission. Turner was the first African American elected to Wisconsin’s Assembly not from Milwaukee.[2]
Biography
Turner was born in
Columbus, Mississippi and moved with his family to Racine. He was employed by the
J.I. Case Company, and served four years in the
United States Air ForceSecurity Police during the
Vietnam War, from 1967 through 1970, including service during the 1968
Tet Offensive.[3] He was elected to the City Council in 1976, and was elected to the State Assembly in 1990.[4] He left the City Council in 2004 after serving concurrently as City Councilmember and State Assemblymember for 14 years.[3][5]
After the arrest and resignation of Racine Mayor Gary Becker in 2009, Turner announced his candidacy for the special election to fill the remainder of Becker's term.[6] Turner passed the primary, but was defeated in the runoff by
John Dickert. Turner had previously defeated Dickert in the 1990 and 2002 primary elections for Wisconsin Assembly.[7]
He announced his retirement from the Assembly in 2012, after
redistricting dramatically reshaped the Racine-area senate and assembly districts. His retirement cleared the way for
Cory Mason to run in the redrawn 66th District, which was composed of the southern part of Turner's old 61st District and the eastern part of Mason's old 62nd District.[1]
In 2018, Cory Mason, now Racine Mayor, nominated Turner to the Racine Police and Fire Commission.[8]
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abWisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Biographies and photos". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 61. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". The state of Wisconsin 1985-1986 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 908. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991-1992 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 900, 916. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993-1994 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995-1996 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 904, 922. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 900, 904. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 880, 883. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2001-2002 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 927, 930. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 920, 923. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections". State of Wisconsin 2005-2006 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 926, 929. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections". State of Wisconsin 2007-2008 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 919, 922. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections". State of Wisconsin 2009-2010 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 921, 924. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau.
"Elections". State of Wisconsin 2011-2012 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 905, 908. Retrieved 2019-03-05.