Representative Robert L. Turner

Robert L. Turner (born September 14, 1947) is an American public administrator and politician whose career has spanned local, state, and federal office. He was born in Columbus, Mississippi, and moved with his family to Racine, Wisconsin, where he would later become a prominent civic leader. Early in adulthood, Turner was employed by the J.I. Case Company, a major manufacturer with deep roots in Racine’s industrial economy. He also entered military service during a pivotal era in American history, joining the United States Air Force Security Police during the Vietnam War. Turner served in the Air Force from 1967 through 1970, including duty during the 1968 Tet Offensive, one of the most significant campaigns of the conflict.

Following his military service, Turner returned to Racine and became increasingly active in public affairs. While specific details of his formal education are not highlighted in the available records, his subsequent professional trajectory reflects a sustained engagement with public administration and governance. His early employment and military experience helped shape his understanding of working-class concerns, public safety, and the responsibilities of government, laying the groundwork for a long career in elected office and civic leadership.

Turner’s political career began at the municipal level. In 1976, he was elected to the Racine City Council, marking the start of what would become decades of public service. He quickly emerged as a significant figure in local politics, representing his community through periods of economic and social change. In 1990, Turner successfully ran for the Wisconsin State Assembly, and he took office in January 1991 as a Democratic representative of the city of Racine. He made history as the first African American elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly from outside Milwaukee, a milestone in the state’s political and civil rights development. Remarkably, from 1990 until 2004, Turner served concurrently as a Racine City Council member and a State Assembly member, holding both offices for 14 years before leaving the City Council in 2004 to focus exclusively on his legislative responsibilities in Madison.

At the federal level, Robert L. Turner also served as a Representative from New York in the United States Congress from 2011 to 2013. A member of the Republican Party in that capacity, he represented a New York congressional district for one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, marked by ongoing debates over economic recovery, federal spending, and national security in the aftermath of the late-2000s financial crisis and during the early years of the 2010s. As a member of the House of Representatives, Turner participated in the democratic process at the national level and contributed to the legislative process, representing the interests of his constituents and engaging in the formulation and consideration of federal policy.

Turner’s state-level legislative career in Wisconsin was extensive and influential. He represented Racine in the Wisconsin State Assembly for eleven terms, serving from 1991 to 2013. Over more than two decades, he was repeatedly returned to office by his constituents, reflecting sustained confidence in his leadership. During this period, he navigated shifting political landscapes and evolving district boundaries. In 2009, after the arrest and resignation of Racine Mayor Gary Becker, Turner sought to extend his public service to the mayor’s office. He announced his candidacy in the special election to fill the remainder of Becker’s term and advanced through the primary election, but he was ultimately defeated in the runoff by John Dickert. Notably, Turner had previously defeated Dickert in the Democratic primary elections for the Wisconsin Assembly in both 1990 and 2002, underscoring the long-running political relationship between the two men.

In 2012, Turner announced his retirement from the Wisconsin State Assembly. This decision came in the context of a significant redistricting process that dramatically reshaped the Racine-area senate and assembly districts. The redrawing of district lines altered the political map of the region, and Turner’s retirement helped clear the way for fellow Democrat Cory Mason to run in the newly configured 66th Assembly District. That district combined the southern portion of Turner’s former 61st District with the eastern part of Mason’s old 62nd District, ensuring continuity of Democratic representation while adapting to the new boundaries. Turner’s departure from the Assembly in 2013 concluded a 22-year tenure in state legislative office.

In his later life, Turner has continued to serve the Racine community in appointed roles and through civic organizations. In 2018, Cory Mason, by then serving as Mayor of Racine, nominated Turner to the Racine Police and Fire Commission, further extending Turner’s long-standing involvement in public safety and municipal oversight. Beyond formal office, Turner is active in veterans’ and fraternal organizations. He is a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion, reflecting his enduring connection to fellow veterans of the Vietnam War. He is also a 33rd degree Mason, indicating a high level of commitment and recognition within the Masonic fraternity. Through his combined service in local government, the Wisconsin State Assembly, the United States Congress, and various civic bodies, Robert L. Turner has played a multifaceted role in American public life at the municipal, state, and federal levels.