Sylvester Turner
| Sylvester Turner | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 139th district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Clint Hackney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 27, 1954 Houston, Texas |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Cheryl Turner (1983-1991; divorced) |
| Children | Ashley Paige Turner |
| Residence | Houston, Texas |
| Alma mater | University of Houston Harvard Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Website | |
Sylvester Turner is a Democratic member of the Texas House of Representatives, serving since 1989. Turner attended the University of Houston and Harvard Law School.[1] Turner is considered a potential future Congressional candidate.[2] Turner ran for Mayor of Houston in 1991, losing in the runoff election to Bob Lanier and again in 2003, falling in third place: missing out on the runoff. [3]
Early Years
Turner was born on September 9, 1954 in Houston, Texas as the sixth of nine children and was raised in the Acres Home community in northwest Houston by his father, a commercial painter and his mother, a maid at the Rice Hotel. As a dedicated learner and committed to academics, he was elected senior class president by his peers and awarded valedictorian of his graduating class from Klein High School. His record of accomplishments continued to expand at the University of Houston, where he was Speaker of the Student Senate and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. degree in Political Science. In addition, Turner achieved a finalist position in the Ames Moot Court Competition while obtaining a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School.
Law practice field
Upon graduating from law school, Turner joined the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski. In 1983, Turner founded his own law firm, Barnes & Turner, where he continues to successfully represent both plaintiffs and defendants in breach of contract actions. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and as a seminar lecturer at the South Texas College of Law and the University of Houston Law School's Continuing Legal Education Programs. Turner was admitted to practice in the State of Texas, federal District Court for the Southern District Court of Texas and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Houston Lawyers Association and the Houston Bar Association.
Political career
In 1984, Turner ran for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 1 in the Democratic primary, but lost to El Franco Lee, who currently has held the seat ever since. Four years later, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives to serve the people of Harris County of House District 139 in Harris County and was reelected in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and again in 2014.
He has served more than 25 years and is a member of the Legislative Budget Board, Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the Subcommittee of Articles 1, 4 & 5 (General Government, Judiciary, Public Safety & Criminal Justice) and a member of the House State Affairs Committee. He also chaired the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the Greater Houston Area Legislative Delegation
References
- ↑ "Rep. Sylvester Turner". Texas House of Representatives. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ↑ Livingston, Abby (27 March 2014). "In Lone Star State, High Hopes for Rising Democrats". Roll Call. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ↑ Groogan, Greg (1 March 2014). "Sylvester Turner eyes Houston Mayor job". Fox Houston. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
