Chuck Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Turner
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| Member of the Boston City Council from the 7th District | |
| In office 1999–2010 |
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| Preceded by | Gareth R. Saunders |
| Succeeded by | Tito Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 10, 1940 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Died | (aged 79) |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Green-Rainbow Party |
| Residence | Roxbury, Boston |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Occupation | Activist, politician |
Charles "Chuck" Turner (born June 10, 1940 – died December 25, 2019) was an American politician and activist. He served as a member of the Boston City Council, representing District 7. Turner was part of the Green-Rainbow Party, which is connected to the national Green Party.
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Early Life and Activism
Chuck Turner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Harvard University and earned a degree in government in 1963. After college, he became a community organizer in Boston's South End in 1966. A community organizer helps people in a neighborhood work together to solve problems. Turner worked to make sure there was enough public housing and affordable housing for everyone.
He also started the Boston Jobs Council. This group pushed for a rule that a certain number of public jobs in Boston should go to people who live in Boston. This helped more Black and Latino construction workers get jobs in the city.
Serving on the Boston City Council
In November 1999, Chuck Turner was elected to the Boston City Council. The City Council is a group of elected officials who make laws and decisions for the city. Turner represented District 7, which includes neighborhoods like Roxbury and parts of the Fenway, South End, and Dorchester. He won his election by a close vote.
During his time on the council, Turner was known for speaking his mind. He often had strong opinions and sometimes disagreed with other council members. For example, in 2004, he was upset about being removed from the Education Committee. He spoke out against what he saw as unfair limits on discussions, calling them "institutional racism."
Turner was very popular with voters in his district. He won re-election easily in 2001 and 2007, getting more than 80% of the votes. He even ran without anyone against him in 2003 and 2005. His last election in 2009 was a bit closer, but he still won.
In 2002, Turner wrote a new rule to protect transgender people from unfair treatment. The council approved this rule, and it became law. He also strongly opposed Governor Mitt Romney's attempt to change rules that helped people from minority groups get jobs or go to college. Turner helped lead efforts that stopped the governor from making these changes.
Legal Challenges and Expulsion
In 2007, Chuck Turner was involved in a situation where he accepted money that was not allowed for a public official. He was later found guilty of accepting this money and also of making false statements about it.
In January 2011, Turner was sentenced to three years in prison. He was released early in July 2013 for good behavior, after serving 28 months.
Because of this conviction, the Boston City Council voted to remove Turner from his position on December 1, 2010. This was the first time in many years that a Boston City Council member had been expelled. Turner and some of his supporters later sued the council, saying they didn't have the power to remove him. In 2012, the highest court in Massachusetts agreed that the council could not expel a member. In 2013, the city paid Turner $106,000 to settle the case.
Death
Chuck Turner passed away on December 25, 2019, at the age of 79. He died from cancer.
