Donald H. Turner Jr. (July 19, 1964 – November 30, 2024) was an American Republican politician who served in the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives a ...

, to which he was first elected in

2006 2006 was designated as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification. Events January * January 1– 4 – Russia temporarily cuts shipment of natural gas to Ukraine during a price dispute. * January 12 – A stampede during t ...

. He represented the Chittenden-9 district until 2012 and represented the Chittenden-10 district from 2013 to 2019 for the town of Milton in Chittenden County. He also served as the Minority Leader of the

from 2011 to 2019. Turner later served as the Town Manager of Milton as well as a member of the Board of Civil Authority. He was also a certified fire instructor, a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Milton Firefighters Association, and was the Milton Fire and Rescue Chief and Forest Fire Warden. Turner was the 2018 Republican nominee for

Lieutenant Governor of Vermont The lieutenant governor of Vermont is elected for a two-year term and chosen separately from the Governor of Vermont, governor. The Vermont lieutenant governor's main responsibilities include acting as governor when the governor is out of state o ...

. He ran on a platform of affordability and economic growth; balance and collaboration; and supporting first responders and service-members. Turner lost to incumbent Dave Zuckerman ( P/ D) in the November general election.

Legislative service

Turner was first elected to the Legislature in 2006. During his time in the Vermont House Representatives, Turner served on several committees, including the House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development; the House Committee on Education; the House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products; the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions; the House Rules Committee; the Joint Rules Committee; and the Legislative Council Committee. Much of the legislation introduced by Turner focused on property tax relief, affordability, economic growth, housing development, government modernization, budgetary management, public safety, and permitting reform. This includes legislation to improve the operations of state government, reduce property tax bills, eliminate taxes on Social Security income and military retirement income, and address unfunded pension liabilities. While serving as Minority Leader, Turner also worked with Democratic Representatives to advance legislation on issues like sexual harassment prevention.

Death

Turner died at a hospice home in

Colchester, Vermont Colchester is a town in Chittenden County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population of Colchester was 17,524. It is the third-most populous municipality and most populous town in the state of Vermont. Colchester borders B ...

, on November 30, 2024, following a diagnosis of

glioblastoma Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival. Initial signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nons ...

. He was 60.

Electoral history

2018 Vermont Lieutenant Governor General Election 2016 Chittenden-10 State Representative General Election 2014 Chittenden-10 State Representative General Election 2012 Chittenden-10 State Representative General Election 2010 Chittenden-9 State Representative General Election 2008 Chittenden-9 State Representative General Election 2006 Chittenden-9 State Representative General Election

References

1964 births 2024 deaths Champlain College alumni Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives 21st-century members of the Vermont General Assembly People from Milton, Vermont Deaths from glioblastoma Deaths from brain cancer in the United States {{vermont-politician-stub