Kentucky state Sen. Johnnie Turner, recognized for his staunch help for the coal trade and different causes in his Appalachian district, has died after being injured at residence final month when he plunged into an empty swimming pool whereas aboard a garden mower. He was 76.
Turner, a Harlan Republican, was recognized for his folksy method that endeared him to constituents and colleagues alike. Turner died Tuesday night after his “hard-fought battle” with accidents sustained within the accident, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers mentioned in an announcement Wednesday.
“Johnnie spent his life lifting others – whether or not by his service within the U.S. Military, as a member of the State Home of Representatives and State Senate, or in his personal authorized follow,” Stivers mentioned. “His unwavering dedication to the folks of jap Kentucky – his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so fondly known as ‘his folks’ – was on the coronary heart of every thing he did.”
U.S. Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell recalled crossing paths with Turner whereas again in his residence state to survey harm from flooding that swamped components of jap Kentucky.
“Johnnie was on the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his tools from residence in tow, prepared to assist people in Letcher County,” McConnell mentioned Wednesday in an announcement. “That is simply who he was: a superb man who beloved the mountains and its folks.”
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Kentucky Senate Majority Ground Chief Damon Thayer mentioned Turner’s dying was heartbreaking.
“He was simply an incredible man of the mountains, who’s type and beneficiant and open-minded about supporting initiatives that have been good for the complete state, whereas on the similar time being a fierce advocate for his area,” Thayer mentioned Wednesday in an interview.
Turner pushed for pro-coal laws and different measures geared toward uplifting his Appalachian district, spanning a number of counties in jap Kentucky. Coal employment, as soon as the spine of the jap Kentucky financial system, fell sharply during the last decade as cheaper pure gasoline costs and harder environmental laws prompted electrical suppliers to maneuver away from shopping for coal.
In August, CBS affiliate WYMT interviewed Turner about his struggle to maintain the coal trade working.
“This authorities making an attempt to kill the coal trade it ain’t going to occur in Kentucky it simply ain’t going to occur,” Turner advised the station.
However Turner appeared nicely past his district to again measures benefiting the remainder of the Bluegrass State, Thayer mentioned, pointing to Turner’s help for a high-stakes horse racing invoice just a few years in the past. That measure secured the authorized standing of wagering on slots-style historic racing machines, a profitable income supply for racetracks. It was a tricky vote for Turner, who represented a socially conservative district.
“He advised me that he noticed what occurred to the coal trade in jap Kentucky and he did not wish to see one other main trade – on this case the horse trade – have the identical factor occur to it,” Thayer mentioned. “I actually admire his braveness on that.”
Turner served within the Kentucky Home from 1999 to 2002. Home Speaker David Osborne mentioned Wednesday that Turner was an “ardent champion and passionate voice for jap Kentucky.”
“We’re saddened by his loss, however know that his legacy will reside on in these he helped,” Osborne mentioned.
Turner, an legal professional, gained election to the state Senate in 2020, ousting a Democratic incumbent with the identical final identify. Turner defeated two challengers within the Republican spring major this 12 months.
Turner was born on Christmas Eve in 1947, WYMT reported. The Harlan County native served within the U.S. Military from 1967 to 1969 within the Panama Canal Zone the place he met his spouse, Maritza, the station reported.
Together with his dying coming so near the election, Turner’s identify will seem on the overall election poll, the secretary of state’s workplace mentioned. His lone November challenger, an unbiased candidate, lately withdrew from the race. Write-in candidates have till Friday to file for the seat, however in any other case a particular election can be wanted to fill the seat, the secretary of state’s workplace mentioned.
Kentucky’s GOP-dominated legislature will start its 2025 session in January. Till then, lawmakers are assembly in interim committees to review a variety of points in preparation for subsequent 12 months’s 30-day session.
