Last modified on December 18, 2020, at 16:41

Chris Turner (Louisiana politician)

Chrstopher Lyle "Chris" Turner

Louisiana State Representative for
District 12 (Lincoln and Union parishes)
Incumbent
Assumed office 
March 2019
Preceded by Rob Shadoin
Born June 2, 1972
Place of birth missing
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Nancy Lynn Webb Turner
Residence Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Occupation Businessman

Christopher Lyle Turner, known as Chris Turner (born June 2, 1972)[1] is a Republican member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 12 in Lincoln and Union parishes. He won a special election for the seat for an 11-month term on February 23, 2019, to succeed Moderate Republican Rob Shadoin, who joined the administration of Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards'

To win the seat in a low-turnout contest, he defeated fellow Republican Jake Halley of Farmerville in Union Parish, 3,561 votes (70 percent) to 1,537 (30 percent).[2]

Turner owns the Medicine Shoppe in Ruston. Before he moved there, he had lived in Magnolia, Arkansas, and Pineville and Oak Grove, Louisiana. Turner campaigned for the House seat as a conservative "outsider" who had never before held public office, but the political columnist Sam Hanna, Jr., of The Ouachita Citizen in West Monroe, called him the choice of "the ruling class in Baton Rouge."[3]

On his website, Turner listed his involvement with the Rotary International of Ruston, the Lions International, Kiwanis International, the United Way, and the Boys and Girls clubs.[4]

Turner joins Democrats in choosing House Speaker

​ On January 13, 2020, Turner was among twenty-three Republican lawmakers who voted for the Moderate Republican Clay Schexnayder of Ascension Parish, whose election as Speaker depended heavily on the votes of thirty-five Democratic lawmakers, two Independents, and the Republican defectors. Governor John Bel Edwards made legislative contacts on Schnexyader's behalf. Statewide radio commentator Moon Griffon calls the twenty-three the Fraud Squad. Griffon voiced fear that Turner is the same kind of moderate politician as his predecessor, Rob Shadoin.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Christopher Turner. Mylife.com. Retrieved on March 1, 2019.
  2. ↑ Election Returns. Louisiana Secretary of State (February 23, 2019).
  3. ↑ Sam Hanna, Jr., "Who Wants to Serve?", The Colfax Chronicle, January 31, 2019, p. 4.
  4. ↑ Turner wins 12th District seat. KTBS-TV in Shreveport (February 23, 2019). Retrieved on March 1, 2019.
  5. ↑ The Moon Griffon Show, January 23, 2020.