Johnnie Turner, a Kentucky state senator, has died at the age of 76. He was popularly known for his staunch support for the coal industry and other causes in his Appalachian district. The death was confirmed on Wednesday that he died after he was injured in his home after he fell into an empty swimming pool while aboard a lawn mower last month.
Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said in a statement Wednesday that Turner was a Harlan Republican known for his folksy manner, which endeared him to constituents and colleagues alike. Turner died Tuesday evening after his “hard-fought battle” with injuries sustained in the accident.
He explained that Johnnie had spent his life always trying to make others prosper in what they do. He cited his days at the U.S. Army as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate and his legal practice, which he did privately. The statement noted that His unwavering commitment to the people of eastern Kentucky, his constituents, brothers and sisters in Christ, whom he so fondly referred to as ‘his people’, was at the heart of everything he did.
While speaking on the death of the senator, U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell disclosed that he had crossed paths with Turner while he was back in his home state to look at the damage that was caused by swamped parts of eastern Kentucky. He noted Johnnie was on the scene, ankle-deep in mud, his equipment from home in tow, ready to help folks in Letcher County. He noted that that act described who he was before his death. He noted that he was a good man who loved his people and the mountains.
The Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, while speaking, also described the death as a heartbreaking incident. The leader noted that he was an amazing person of the mountains who is kind, generous and open-minded about supporting initiatives that were good for the entire state while at the same time being a fierce advocate for his region,
It was learnt that Turner pushed for pro-coal legislation and other measures to uplift his Appalachian district, which spans several counties in eastern Kentucky. Coal employment, once the backbone of the eastern Kentucky economy, fell sharply over the last decade as cheaper natural gas prices and more onerous environmental regulations prompted electric providers to move away from buying coal.
Thayer, while paying tributes, noted that Turner looked well beyond his district to back measures that benefit the rest of the Bluegrass State. He pointed to Turner’s support for a high-stakes horse racing bill a few years ago. That measure secured the legal status of wagering on slots-style historical racing machines, a lucrative revenue source for racetracks. It was a tough vote for Turner, representing a socially conservative district.
He disclosed that Turner had told him that he had seen what had happened in the past in the coal industry in the eastern part of Kentucky, explaining that he never wanted to see another leading industry — in this case, the horse industry — have the same thing happen to it. Thayer commended the level of courage he showed in the acting on that.
It was learnt that before his death, he served in the Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. The House Speaker David Osborne described him on Wednesday that he was an “ardent champion and passionate voice for eastern Kentucky. Osborne further expressed shock with the death of the individual, noting it was sad to learn of his death but optimistically stated that the the legacy he has left will continue to speak for him.
Turner, an attorney, was elected to the state Senate in 2020, ousting a Democratic incumbent with the same last name. This year, Turner defeated two challengers in the Republican spring primary.
With his death coming so close to the election, the secretary of state’s office said Turner’s name would appear on the general election ballot. His lone November competition, an independent candidate, recently withdrew from the race. Write-in candidates have until Friday to file for the seat; if that fails, a special election will be needed to fill it, the secretary of state’s office said after his death.
Kentucky’s GOP-dominated legislature has been scheduled to start its 2025 session in January. For now the lawmakers are meeting in interim committees to study various issues in preparation for next year’s 30-day session.
