Chuck Turner (10 June 1940 – 25 December 2019) was an American politician, activist, and community organiser who served as a member of the Boston City Council representing District 7. A member of the Green-Rainbow Party, he was known for his outspoken advocacy for racial and economic justice. However, his career ended in controversy after being convicted of bribery and expelled from the council.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Charles Henry Turner II was the grandson of Charles Henry Turner (through Darwin R. Turner), the pioneering zoologist. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in government. After university, he became a community organiser in Boston's South End, advocating for public housing, affordable housing, and employment opportunities for Black and Latino residents.

Turner founded the Boston Jobs Council, which pushed for a share of public jobs to be reserved for Boston residents, aiming to increase minority representation in the construction industry.

Boston City Council (1999–2010)

In November 1999, Turner was elected to the Boston City Council, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the South End, Fenway, and Dorchester. He won against Mayor Tom Menino’s preferred candidate by 693 votes.

Turner was a controversial figure, often clashing with colleagues and city officials. He was known for outspoken remarks and confrontational politics, frequently criticising institutional racism.

Key Achievements and Policies

• Transgender Rights Ordinance (2002): Authored and passed a city law protecting transgender individuals from discrimination.
• Affirmative Action: Led opposition against Governor Mitt Romney’s attempt to dismantle state affirmative action policies.
• Housing and Jobs Advocacy: Continued to push for affordable housing and equal job opportunities for minorities.

Controversies

• 2004: Condoleezza Rice Comparison: Compared Condoleezza Rice working for George W. Bush to a Jewish person working for Hitler, sparking outrage.
• 2004: Fake Photos Scandal: Held a press conference displaying fake photos of U.S. soldiers raping Iraqi women, later debunked by media outlets.

Despite these controversies, Turner remained politically strong, often winning re-election by large margins.

In 2007, Turner was secretly videotaped by an FBI informant accepting $1,000 in cash in exchange for helping a Roxbury nightclub obtain a liquor license. In 2008, he was arrested and indicted for bribery, conspiracy, and making false statements.

In 2010, he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in federal prison. The judge cited Turner’s false statements and perjury as reasons for the long sentence.

On 1 December 2010, the Boston City Council expelled Turner in an 11–1 vote, making him the first council member in modern history to be removed. However, in 2012, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled the council did not have the legal power to expel him, leading to Boston paying Turner $106,000 in compensation.

Turner served 28 months in prison and was released early in July 2013 for good behaviour.

Chuck Turner passed away in Boston on 25 December 2019 from cancer at the age of 79.

Text above via Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Turner

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2. Chuck Turner through the years, Boston Globe.
3. Andrew Ryan, Turner sentenced to 3 years in prison: Judge delivers a stern reproach, Boston Globe (January 26, 2011).
4. William E. Nelson Jr. (2000). Black Atlantic Politics: Dilemmas of Political Empowerment in Boston and Liverpool. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791446713.
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11. "City Councilor Chuck Turner charged with accepting bribe". Boston Globe. November 21, 2008. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013.
12. Saltzman, Jonathan; Murphy, Shelley (November 22, 2008). "Turner arrested, charged with accepting a bribe". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010.
13. Ellement, John (October 29, 2010). "Boston Councilor Chuck Turner convicted on all counts in corruption case". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 1, 2010.
14. John Ruch (February 6, 2009). "Report: Wilkerson took $70K in 'gifts'". Jamaica Plain Gazette.[permanent dead link]
15. Laurel J. Sweet. "Chuck Turner sentenced to 3 years in jail". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012.
16. Todd Feathers (August 3, 2013). "Former city councilor Chuck Turner moved to Boston halfway house". Boston Globe.
17. Ryan, Andrew; Andersen, Travis (December 2, 2010). "Amid outcry, council expels Turner". Boston Globe.
18. Andrew Ryan, Mass. high court rules that Boston City Council overstepped when it removed Chuck Turner, Boston Globe (June 15, 2012).
19. Andrew Ryan, [1], Boston Globe (February 8, 2013).
20. Miller, Yawu (December 26, 2019). "Chuck Turner dead at 79". Bay State Banner. Retrieved December 26, 2019.