Robert L. Turner

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For other politicians of the same name, see Robert Turner (disambiguation).
Robert L. Turner
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the 61st district
In office
January 7, 1991 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byScott C. Fergus
Succeeded bySamantha Kerkman
Member of the Racine City Council
In office
1976–2004
Personal details
Born (1947-09-14) September 14, 1947 (age 76)
Columbus, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceRacine, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Parkside
OccupationPolitician
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1967–1970
Battles/warsVietnam War

Robert L. Turner (born September 14, 1947) is an American public administrator and Democratic politician from Racine, Wisconsin. He represented the city of Racine for eleven terms in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1991 to 2013.[1] Since 2018, he has been a member of the Racine Police and Fire Commission. Turner was the first African American elected to Wisconsin's Assembly not from Milwaukee.[2][3]

Biography[edit]

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 Force Security Police during the Vietnam War, from 1967 through 1970, including service during the 1968 Tet Offensive.[4] He was elected to the City Council in 1976, and was elected to the State Assembly in 1990.[5] He left the City Council in 2004 after serving concurrently as City Councilmember and State Assemblymember for 14 years.[4][6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

Turner is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and a 33rd degree Mason.[5]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly (1984)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1984 Primary[10] Sep. 11 Scott C. Fergus Democratic 1,920 53.36% Robert L. Turner Dem. 1,345 37.38% 3,598 575
William M. Frank Dem. 333 9.26%

Wisconsin Assembly (1990–2008)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1990 Primary[11] Sep. 11 Robert L. Turner Democratic 2,056 55.06% John Dickert Dem. 1,193 31.95% 3,734 863
Cathleen A. Cotter Dem. 485 12.99%
General[11] Nov. 6 Robert L. Turner Democratic 7,232 62.09% Roderick D. Wilhelmi Rep. 4,415 37.91% 11,647 2,817
1992 General[12] Nov. 3 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 11,963 66.66% Stella A. Young Rep. 5,984 33.34% 17,947 5,979
1994 General[13] Nov. 8 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 7,464 100.0% --Unopposed-- 7,464 7,464
1996 General[14] Nov. 5 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 10,218 85.97% Thomas Rivers Tax. 904 7.61% 11,886 9,314
Michael L. Wynhoff Lib. 764 6.43%
1998 Primary[15] Sep. 8 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 1,535 79.12% Ken Lumpkin Dem. 405 20.88% 1,940 1,130
General[15] Nov. 3 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 9,515 100.0% --Unopposed-- 9,515 9,515
2000 General[16] Nov. 7 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 13,703 99.56% 13,763 13,643
2002 Primary[17] Sep. 10 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 3,194 52.24% John Dickert Dem. 2,919 47.74% 6,114 275
General[18] Nov. 5 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 9,525 98.15% --Unopposed-- 9,705 9,345
2004 General[19] Nov. 2 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 17,173 89.49% George Meyers Lib. 1,980 10.32% 19,189 15,193
2006 General[20] Nov. 7 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 11,431 99.06% --Unopposed-- 11,539 11,323
2008 General[21] Nov. 4 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 16,267 87.71% George Meyers Lib. 2,242 12.09% 18,547 14,025
2010 Primary[22] Sep. 14 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 1,777 77.90% James DeMatthew Dem. 504 22.10% 2,281 1,273
General[23] Nov. 2 Robert L. Turner (inc) Democratic 10,026 81.96% George Meyers Lib. 2,167 17.71% 12,233 7,859

Racine Mayor (2009)[edit]

Racine Mayoral Special Election, 2009[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election, April 7, 2009
Democratic John Dickert 2,307 23.09%
Democratic Robert Turner 1,671 16.73%
Democratic Kimberly Plache 1,313 13.14%
Independent James Spangenberg 1,249 12.50%
Independent Greg Helding 1,150 11.51%
Independent Pete Karas 851 8.52%
Independent Jody Harding 658 6.59%
Independent Q.A. Shakoor II 414 4.14%
Independent Lesia Hill-Driver 161 1.61%
Independent Raymond Fay 148 1.48%
Independent Jaimie Charon 69 0.69%
Total votes 9,991 100.0%
General Election, May 5, 2009
Democratic John Dickert 6,027 55.46%
Democratic Robert Turner 4,841 44.54%
Total votes 10,868 100.0%

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Stephanie Jones (2012-03-28). "State Rep. Turner not seeking re-election". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. ^ "Election Results: Blacks Make New Gains Across U.S." Jet. Vol. 79, no. 7. Johnson Publishing Company. November 26, 1990. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Slaight, Jillian; Lee, Isaac (February 2023). "Black Members of the Wisconsin Legislature: An Overview" (PDF). Wisconsin History Project. Vol. 4, no. 1. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Rob Golub (2004-04-20). "Turner leaves Racine city government after 28 years". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  5. ^ a b Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Biographies and photos". State of Wisconsin 2003-2004 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 61. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  6. ^ "Newsmakers: Exit Interview with Representative Robert Turner (D-Racine)". WisconsinEye. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  7. ^ Leary, Patrick (2017-05-28). "A wave of change: Recounting Becker's fall from grace". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  8. ^ a b Brien, Stephanie (2009-04-07). "Dickert or Turner to be Racine's next mayor". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  9. ^ Christina Lieffring (2018-12-06). "Bob Turner joins Police and Fire Commission". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  10. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1985). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1985–1986 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 908, 926. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1991). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1991–1992 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 916. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  12. ^ Barish, Lawrence S.; Theobald, H. Rupert, eds. (1993). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1993–1994 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 905, 922. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1995). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1995–1996 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 904, 922. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Barish, Lawrence S., ed. (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". State of Wisconsin 1997–1998 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 900, 904. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E., eds. (1999). "Elections". State of Wisconsin 1999–2000 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 880, 883. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  16. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2000 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. May 10, 2001. p. 30. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  17. ^ Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/10/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. September 24, 2002. p. 52. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  18. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/05/2002 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 2, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  19. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2004. p. 32. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  20. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 5, 2006. p. 31. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  21. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (Report). Wisconsin State Elections Board. December 1, 2008. p. 29. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  22. ^ Results of Fall Partisan Primary - 9/14/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. October 4, 2010. p. 49. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.
  23. ^ Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2010 (Report). Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. December 1, 2010. p. 24. Retrieved May 11, 2024 – via Wisconsin Historical Society.

External links[edit]

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 61st district
January 7, 1991 – January 7, 2013 		Succeeded by
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