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
Robert L. Turner

(1947-09-14) September 14, 1947 (age 76)
Columbus, Mississippi
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceRacine, Wisconsin
Alma materUniversity of Wisconsin–Parkside
OccupationPolitician
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service1967–1970
Battles/warsVietnam War

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 Force Security 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]

Turner is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and a 33rd degree Mason.[4]

Electoral history

Wisconsin Assembly (1984)

Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1984[9]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Scott C. Fergus 1,920 43.38%
Democratic Robert L. Turner 1,345 30.39%
Republican Donald Walsh 828 18.71%
Democratic William M. Frank 333 7.52%
Total votes '4,426' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Scott C. Fergus 10,880 55.21%
Republican Donald Walsh 8,827 44.79%
Total votes '19,707' '100.0%'
Democratic gain from Republican

Wisconsin Assembly (1990-2008)

Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1990[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner 2,056 46.14%
Democratic John Dickert 1,193 26.77%
Republican Roderick D. Wilhelmi 722 16.20%
Democratic Cathleen A. Cotter 485 10.88%
Total votes '4,456' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner 7,232 62.09%
Republican Roderick D. Wilhelmi 4,415 37.91%
Total votes '11,647' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1992[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 3,296 78.51%
Republican Stella Young 902 21.49%
Total votes '4,198' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 11,963 66.66%
Republican Stella Young 5,984 33.34% -4.57%
Total votes '17,947' '100.0%' +54.09%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1994[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 822 100.0%
Total votes '822' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 7,464 100.0%
Total votes '7,464' '100.0%' -58.41%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1996[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,477 98.07%
U.S. Taxpayers Thomas Rivers 16 1.06%
Libertarian Michael L. Wynhoff 13 0.86%
Total votes '1,506' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 10,218 85.97% -14.03%
U.S. Taxpayers Thomas Rivers 904 7.61%
Libertarian Michael L. Wynhoff 764 6.43%
Total votes '11,886' '100.0%' +59.24%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 1998[14]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,535 79.12%
Democratic Ken Lumpkin 405 20.88%
Total votes '1,940' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 9,515 100.0% +14.03%
Total votes '9,515' '100.0%' -19.95%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2000[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 848 100.0%
Total votes '848' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 13,703 99.56% -0.44%
Write-ins 60 0.44%
Total votes '13,763' '100.0%'
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2002[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert L. Turner (incumbent) 3,194 52.25%
Democratic John Dickert 2,919 47.75%
Total votes '6,113' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 9,525 98.15% -1.41%
Write-ins 180 1.85% +1.41%
Total votes '9,705' '100.0%' -29.48%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2004[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,536 98.78%
Libertarian George Meyers 19 1.22%
Total votes '1,555' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 17,173 89.49% -8.66%
Libertarian George Meyers 1,980 10.32%
Total votes '19,189' '100.0%' +97.72%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2006[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,774 100.0%
Total votes '1,774' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 11,431 99.06% +9.57%
Write-ins 108 0.94%
Total votes '11,431' '100.0%' -40.43%
Democratic hold
Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2008[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,213 98.62%
Libertarian George Meyers 17 1.38%
Total votes '1,230' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 16,267 87.71% -11.35%
Libertarian George Meyers 2,242 12.09%
Total votes '18,547' '100.0%' +62.25%
Democratic hold

Racine Mayor (2009)

Racine Mayoral Special Election, 2009
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Independent John Dickert 2,307 23.09%
Independent Robert Turner 1,671 16.73%
Independent 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
Independent John Dickert 6,027 55.46%
Independent Robert Turner 4,841 44.54%
Total votes '10,868' '100.0%'

Wisconsin Assembly (2010)

Wisconsin Assembly 61st District Election, 2010[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Primary Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 1,777 77.67%
Democratic James R. DeMatthew 504 22.03%
Libertarian George Meyers 7 0.31%
Total votes '2,288' '100.0%'
General Election
Democratic Robert Turner (incumbent) 10,026 81.96% -5.75%
Libertarian George Meyers 2,167 17.71% +5.62%
Total votes '12,233' '100.0%' -34.04%
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ a b Stephanie Jones (2012-03-28). "State Rep. Turner not seeking re-election". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  2. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. 26 November 1990.
  3. ^ a b Rob Golub (2004-04-20). "Turner leaves Racine city government after 28 years". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Newsmakers: Exit Interview with Representative Robert Turner (D-Racine)". WisconsinEye. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  6. ^ Leary, Patrick (2017-05-28). "A wave of change: Recounting Becker's fall from grace". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  7. ^ Brien, Stephanie (2009-04-07). "Dickert or Turner to be Racine's next mayor". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  8. ^ Christina Lieffring (2018-12-06). "Bob Turner joins Police and Fire Commission". Racine Journal Times. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2005-2006 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 926, 929. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  18. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2007-2008 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 919, 922. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  19. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2009-2010 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 921, 924. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
  20. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. "Elections". State of Wisconsin 2011-2012 Blue Book (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 905, 908. Retrieved 2019-03-05.

External links

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