Chuck Turner
Encyclopedia
Chuck Turner is a Boston, Massachusetts politician
, activist, and convicted felon
, who served on the Boston City Council
representing District 7. Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party
Massachusetts
affiliate to the national Green Party
. Turner also held the distinction of being the highest elected Green official in the state.
He has a BA from Harvard University
, was a Community Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, and was awarded an honorary Associates of Arts degree from Roxbury Community College
. He lives in Roxbury neighborhood of Boston with his wife Terri.
He has also worked as Coordinator of Training at Emerge, a batterer's counseling organization, and as education director at a nonprofit consulting firm focused on establishing worker cooperative
s.
. He won his seat by a 693-vote margin against the city's director of youth services, who was the preferred candidate of Mayor Tom Menino.
Turner has a volatile relationship with the Boston City Council. First elected in 1999, Turner vice-chaired the Education and Human Rights & Services committees. He was a member of the Arts, Film, Humanities & Tourism, Education, Government Operations, Housing, Human Rights & Services, Post Audit & Oversight, Special Committee on Federal, Stimulus Oversight, Whole, and Youth Affairs committees until he was ousted by fellow councilmen after his criminal conviction. In February 2004, angry at being removed from the Education Committee, he compared City Council President Michael F. Flaherty
to Louise Day Hicks
, an opponent of the city's desegregation busing. He had also accused limits placed on debate as being "institutional racism".
He had some notable successes: In 2002, he authored an ordinance protecting transgender
persons from discrimination that was overwhelmingly approved by the council and signed into law. Also, when Governor Mitt Romney
dismantled the state's affirmative action
guidelines, Turner became one of its aggressive critics, helping lead public pressure to cause the governor put the change on hold.
In April 2004, Turner was quoted by the Boston Herald
as saying that Condoleezza Rice
working for George W. Bush
was "similar in my mind to a Jewish person working for Hitler in the 1930s."
In May 2004, Turner and activist Sadiki Kambon held a press conference to reveal photos purportedly showing US soldiers raping Iraqi women. The pictures were eventually identified as fakes, but only after four of the alleged rape shots appeared in a Boston Globe photo of the two men. Turner was subjected to wide criticism from conservative media and was censured by six members of the City Council. Turner was unrepentant, noting that he had urged the media to confirm the photos’ authenticity before disseminating them.
On December 9, 2008, Turner was indicted by a federal grand jury on three charges of making false statements and a charge of conspiracy with former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson
, all stemming from an FBI public corruption investigation. Turner was found guilty of the false statement and bribery charges by a jury
on October 29, 2010.
Turner has made claims that both he and Wilkerson are victims of a government conspiracy against African-American officials.
On December 1, 2010, Turner was expelled from the Boston City Council by an 11-1 vote making him the first council member to ever be expelled in the history of the modern Boston City Council.
On January 25, 2011, Turner was sentenced to three years in prison.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, activist, and convicted felon
Felon
Felon may refer to:* Someone who commits a felony* Whitlow, a purulent inflammation of the pulp of a finger* A slang term for Summer Mastitis in cows in the United Kingdom* Felon, Territoire de Belfort, a commune of the Franche-Comté region, in France...
, who served on the Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
representing District 7. Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party
Green-Rainbow Party
The Green-Rainbow Party is a political party in Massachusetts. It is the Massachusetts state affiliate of the Green Party of the United States.-Establishment of official party status:...
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
affiliate to the national Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
. Turner also held the distinction of being the highest elected Green official in the state.
He has a BA from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, was a Community Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, and was awarded an honorary Associates of Arts degree from Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College
Roxbury Community College is a community college in the Roxbury Crossing neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. RCC offers associate degrees in arts, and sciences, as well as certificates...
. He lives in Roxbury neighborhood of Boston with his wife Terri.
Activist
Turner has worked as an activist since the 1960s. He has served as the director of a community development corporation, an organizer training center, co-founder of the United Community Construction Workers, and founder of the Boston Jobs Council.He has also worked as Coordinator of Training at Emerge, a batterer's counseling organization, and as education director at a nonprofit consulting firm focused on establishing worker cooperative
Worker cooperative
A worker cooperative is a cooperative owned and democratically managed by its worker-owners. This control may be exercised in a number of ways. A cooperative enterprise may mean a firm where every worker-owner participates in decision making in a democratic fashion, or it may refer to one in which...
s.
Boston City Council
Turner represented District 7, which includes Roxbury, Fenway, and the South End on the Boston City CouncilBoston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
. He won his seat by a 693-vote margin against the city's director of youth services, who was the preferred candidate of Mayor Tom Menino.
Turner has a volatile relationship with the Boston City Council. First elected in 1999, Turner vice-chaired the Education and Human Rights & Services committees. He was a member of the Arts, Film, Humanities & Tourism, Education, Government Operations, Housing, Human Rights & Services, Post Audit & Oversight, Special Committee on Federal, Stimulus Oversight, Whole, and Youth Affairs committees until he was ousted by fellow councilmen after his criminal conviction. In February 2004, angry at being removed from the Education Committee, he compared City Council President Michael F. Flaherty
Michael F. Flaherty
Michael F. Flaherty is a former at-large member of the Boston City Council. He is a member of the United States Democratic Party. He was elected to Boston City Council Vice President in 2001 and Boston City Council President from 2002 to 2006....
to Louise Day Hicks
Louise Day Hicks
Anna Louise Day Hicks was an American politician and lawyer from Boston, Massachusetts, best known for her staunch opposition to court-ordered busing in the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life:...
, an opponent of the city's desegregation busing. He had also accused limits placed on debate as being "institutional racism".
He had some notable successes: In 2002, he authored an ordinance protecting transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
persons from discrimination that was overwhelmingly approved by the council and signed into law. Also, when Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
dismantled the state's affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
guidelines, Turner became one of its aggressive critics, helping lead public pressure to cause the governor put the change on hold.
In April 2004, Turner was quoted by the Boston Herald
Boston Herald
The Boston Herald is a daily newspaper that serves Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and its surrounding area. It was started in 1846 and is one of the oldest daily newspapers in the United States...
as saying that Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice
Condoleezza Rice is an American political scientist and diplomat. She served as the 66th United States Secretary of State, and was the second person to hold that office in the administration of President George W. Bush...
working for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
was "similar in my mind to a Jewish person working for Hitler in the 1930s."
In May 2004, Turner and activist Sadiki Kambon held a press conference to reveal photos purportedly showing US soldiers raping Iraqi women. The pictures were eventually identified as fakes, but only after four of the alleged rape shots appeared in a Boston Globe photo of the two men. Turner was subjected to wide criticism from conservative media and was censured by six members of the City Council. Turner was unrepentant, noting that he had urged the media to confirm the photos’ authenticity before disseminating them.
Public corruption conviction
On August 3, 2007, Turner was videotaped by FBI informant Ronald Wilburn, accepting $1,000 cash from Wilburn in Turner's district office in exchange for pushing for a liquor license for the Roxbury nightclub Dejavu. On November 22, 2008, Turner was arrested and charged with attempted extortion under color of official right.On December 9, 2008, Turner was indicted by a federal grand jury on three charges of making false statements and a charge of conspiracy with former State Senator Dianne Wilkerson
Dianne Wilkerson
Dianne Wilkerson is a former Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate, representing the 2nd Suffolk District from 1993 to 2008....
, all stemming from an FBI public corruption investigation. Turner was found guilty of the false statement and bribery charges by a jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
on October 29, 2010.
Turner has made claims that both he and Wilkerson are victims of a government conspiracy against African-American officials.
On December 1, 2010, Turner was expelled from the Boston City Council by an 11-1 vote making him the first council member to ever be expelled in the history of the modern Boston City Council.
On January 25, 2011, Turner was sentenced to three years in prison.
External links
- Fox News Video. Video of Turner
- Google news archive. Articles about Turner
- Google blog search. Blog posts about Turner
- Re-Elect Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner
- Turner's Boston City Council page Official Web Site of the City of Boston
- Chuck Turner stands for us::We stand with chuck website. (campaign supporter site)