Kentucky Senator Johnnie Turner (R – Harlan) died Tuesday, Oct. 23, from injuries sustained in a Sept. 15 mowing accident. He was 76. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Turner, a Harlan attorney, received injuries after a mower fell into an empty swimming pool at his home.
“Senator Turner was dedicated to the communities he served throughout the 29th District. His work in the Kentucky Senate and his advocacy for cities throughout Eastern Kentucky will benefit Kentuckians for years to come. On behalf of the Kentucky League of Cities (KLC), we extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time. His legacy of service will be remembered,” KLC Executive Director/CEO J.D. Chaney stated.
“Johnnie spent his life lifting others — whether through his service in the U.S. Army, as a member of the State House of Representatives and State Senate, or in his private legal practice. 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,” Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester) said. “Johnnie’s deep love for his family, community, and the region he represented will be remembered and cherished by all who knew him and were fortunate enough to have felt the positive impact he made. The effects of his tireless work on behalf of Eastern Kentucky families will endure, and his legacy of service and leadership will not be forgotten.”
Kentucky House of Representatives Speaker David Osbourne (R-Prospect) released the following statement: “On behalf of the Kentucky House of Representatives, I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Senator Johnnie Turner. Johnnie will be greatly missed, and his loss will be felt throughout the halls of the Kentucky State Capitol where he served his constituents and commonwealth so well,” Kentucky House of Representatives Speaker David Osbourne (R-Prospect) said. “A committed public servant, Johnnie was an ardent champion and passionate voice for eastern Kentucky. We are saddened by his loss but know that his legacy will live on in those he helped.”
Turner was running for re-election in District 29, which includes Bell, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, and Letcher counties. He won the seat in 2020 after serving in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002.
