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. 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.
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. He was elected to the City Council in 1976, and was elected to the State Assembly in 1990. He left the City Council in 2004 after serving concurrently as City Councilmember and State Assemblymember for 14 years.
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. 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.
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.
In 2018, Cory Mason, now Racine Mayor, nominated Turner to the Racine Police and Fire Commission.
Turner is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, and a 33rd degree Mason.
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (1984) Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1984 Primary Democratic 1,920 53.36% Dem. 1,345 37.38% 3,598 575 Dem. 333 9.26%
Wisconsin Assembly (1990–2008)
Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality 1990 Primary Democratic 2,056 55.06% Dem. 1,193 31.95% 3,734 863 Dem. 485 12.99% General Democratic 7,232 62.09% Rep. 4,415 37.91% 11,647 2,817 1992 General Democratic 11,963 66.66% Rep. 5,984 33.34% 17,947 5,979 1994 General Democratic 7,464 100.0% --Unopposed-- 7,464 7,464 1996 General Democratic 10,218 85.97% Tax. 904 7.61% 11,886 9,314 Lib. 764 6.43% 1998 Primary Democratic 1,535 79.12% Dem. 405 20.88% 1,940 1,130 General Democratic 9,515 100.0% --Unopposed-- 9,515 9,515 2000 General Democratic 13,703 99.56% 13,763 13,643 2002 Primary Democratic 3,194 52.24% Dem. 2,919 47.74% 6,114 275 General Democratic 9,525 98.15% --Unopposed-- 9,705 9,345 2004 General Democratic 17,173 89.49% Lib. 1,980 10.32% 19,189 15,193 2006 General Democratic 11,431 99.06% --Unopposed-- 11,539 11,323 2008 General Democratic 16,267 87.71% Lib. 2,242 12.09% 18,547 14,025 2010 Primary Democratic 1,777 77.90% Dem. 504 22.10% 2,281 1,273 General Democratic 10,026 81.96% Lib. 2,167 17.71% 12,233 7,859
Racine Mayor (2009)
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| Primary Election, April 7, 2009
| colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;"| General Election, May 5, 2009
References
External links Representative Robert L. Turner official government website
Follow the Money − Robert L. Turner 2008 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions