Michael Turner (Tennessee)
Michael Turner (b. February 6, 1955) is a former Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 51 from 2000 to when he retired in February 2014. He left the chamber as the Minority Caucus Chair.[1]
Biography
Turner received his diploma from Dupont High School in 1973. He went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University in 1978. He then attended Tennessee State University in 1990. Turner's professional experience includes working as a firefighter and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).[2]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Turner served on the following committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Calendar and Rules |
| • Consumer and Human Resources |
| • Government Operations |
| • Health |
| • Government Operations |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Turner served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Calendar and Rules |
| • Government Operations |
| • Government Operations |
| • Health & Human Resources |
| • Rules |
| • State & Local Government |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Turner served on these committees:
| Tennessee committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Calendar and Rules |
| • Corrections Oversight |
| • Ethics |
| • Finance, Ways, and Means |
| • Government Operations |
| • Health & Human Resources |
| • Rules |
Issues
Earmarks
Turner says no to earmarks |
Representative Turner planned to make Republicans place a statutory lid on district-level pork-barrel spending.
Turner said he would file a bill in the 2011 session that would institute a two-year halt on legislative earmarks.
“Their people said no mandates, so we’re going to probably put legislation forward that says you can’t have a budget amendment, you’re not going to be able to amend your fish hatchery in,” said Turner, referring to a controversial trout-rearing facility in Independent House Speaker Kent Williams’ district that was included in Democratic budget proposals, but was eventually removed.[3]
Governor Haslam and the UAW
Turner filed a Freedom of Information Act request for all correspondence between the office of Governor Bill Haslam (R) and officials at Volkswagon that "pertains to any incentives for Volkswagen or the discussion of unionization of current or future Volkswagen employees." Turner filed this request because he believes that Governor Haslam may have tried to incentivize Volkswagen to keep the United Automobile Workers union out of their new Chattanooga plant. The UAW has been working to unionize plants from non-U.S.-based automobile manufacturers and in the southern United States.[4]
Elections
2012
Turner ran in the 2012 election for Tennessee House of Representatives, District 51. Turner ran unopposed in the August 2 primary election. He was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[5][6]
2010
Turner was re-elected to the 51st District seat in 2010. He defeated Republican Charles Williamson in the general election on November 2, 2010. He was unopposed in the August 5 primary.[7][8]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Turner won re-election to the 51st District Seat in the Tennessee House of Representatives.[9]
Turner raised $67,810 for his campaign.[10]
| Tennessee House of Representatives, District 51 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Michael Turner (D)
|
17,805 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Tennessee scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 14 to April 18.
- Tennessee Conservation Voters: 2014 Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes related to conservation and environmental issues.
- Tennessee National Federation of Independent Business: 2013-2014 Voting Record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- The American Conservative Union: 2014 Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 108th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 8 to April 19.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, second year, was in session from January 10 through May 1.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 107th Tennessee General Assembly, first year, was in session from January 11 to May 21.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Turner and his wife have three children.[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Michael + Turner + Tennessee + House"
- All stories may not be relevant to this legislator due to the nature of the search engine.
See also
- Tennessee State Legislature
- Tennessee House of Representatives
- Tennessee House of Representatives Committees
- Tennessee Joint Committees
- Tennessee state legislative districts
External links
- Tennessee Legislature - Representative Michael Turner (Archived)
- Profile from Open States
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000
- Tennessee Votes profile
Footnotes
- ↑ The Tenneessean, "Rep. Mike Turner's retirement will bring loss of key voice for TN Dems," February 27, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Project Vote Smart, "Michael Turner's Biography," accessed November 17, 2014
- ↑ TNReport, "Turner Wants Temporary Halt to State ‘Earmarks," December 6, 2010
- ↑ Reuters, "Tenn. legislator: Governor offered VW deal to keep UAW out," September 12, 2013
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2012 List of Candidates," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Department of State, "Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Primary Election Official Results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2010 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Tennessee Secretary of State, "2008 Tennessee General election results," accessed April 18, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "General Election Results," accessed April 18, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by - |
Tennessee House of Representatives District 51 2000–2014 |
Succeeded by Bill Beck (D) |
