Johnny Ray Turner

Johnny Ray Turner is a Democratic member of the Kentucky Senate, representing the 29th District since 2000. He is currently Minority Caucus Chair.

History

In 1983 Knott county businessman Benny Ray Bailey defeated retired state transportation employee Ray Turner for the 29th district State Senate seat. Upon his victory, Bailey sent a certificate to Mr. Turner declaring him an honorary state senator (this action was viewed as an insult).

Twenty-one years later Ray Turners' son, Johnny Ray Turner, threw his hat into the ring for the 29th district State Senate seat. A political novice, Johnny essentially fought a rematch against the same man who defeated his father twenty-one years before. A month before the election Turner faced a 36-point deficit in the polls. Turner labeled senator Bailey as someone who lived in the 29th district but worked for the 30th district.

The following is a 30-second TV spot:

ANNOUNCER: Did you hear the one about the state senator who lives in Knott County making a wrong turn on Highway 80? Instead of turning the right way to go home, he heads the wrong way to Hazard where his business interests are. If this is a joke, why aren't the people of Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson and Knott counties laughing?

TURNER: It's time for a real change in Frankfort.

ANNOUNCER: Johnny Ray Turner - real leadership for real results.

When election night came Johnny Ray Turner won the 29th district State Senate Democratic primary with 54 percent of the vote.

In 2004 and again in 2008 Senator Turner has been challenged by former Senator Baileys' nephew, Eric Shane Hamilton. Senator Turner won re-election by just 24 votes in 2004. In 2008 election Senator Turner was again challenged by Mr. Hamilton but defeated him by capturing 53.5 percent of the vote.

Controversies

Vote-buying scandal

On May 5, 2005, Turner and two co-conspirators were indicted on federal charges of voter fraud stemming from the 2000 race against Bailey. The indictment claimed that the defendants illegally funneled money in order to buy votes, and that they filed false campaign finance reports to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance.^[1][2]

References

External links

• Kentucky Legislature - Senator Johnny Ray Turner official government site
• Project Vote Smart - Senator Johnny Ray Turner (KY) profile
• Follow the Money - Johnny Ray Turner
  • 2008 2006 2004 2000 campaign contributions
• KentuckyVotes.org - Sen. Johnny Ray Turner bills introduced and voting record