Sylvester Turner

Last updated • 13 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Cheryl Gillum
​
​
(m. 1983;div. 1991)​
Sylvester Turner
Turner Sylvester 119th Congress (3x4 cropped).jpg
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Texas's 18th district
In office
January 3, 2025 –March 5, 2025
Children1
Education University of Houston (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Signature Signature of Sylvester Turner.png
Website House website
Turner's voice
Turner speaking about Carrin Patman
Recorded February 2022

Sylvester Turner (September 27, 1954 – March 5, 2025) was an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 18th congressional district from January 2025 until his death in March 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Turner served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016 and served as the 62nd mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024.

Contents

Born and raised in Houston, Turner graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor. [1] He was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988 and continued to serve in the Texas House until 2016.

Turner ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Houston in 1991 and again in 2003. [2] [3] Turner won the 2015 Houston mayoral election, [4] defeating Bill King by a margin of under two percent in the closest mayoral election in Houston history. [5] On December 14, 2019, Turner won his second term as mayor over Tony Buzbee.

In 2024, after the death of Sheila Jackson Lee, Turner announced his candidacy to fill her congressional seat and was nominated at the subsequent convention. [6] He was then elected in November 2024 and took office in January 2025. [7] He served on the Homeland Security Committee and the Science, Space, & Technology Committee. [8] Turner died in the early morning of March 5, 2025 after attending Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress on the previous night. He served a total of 61 days in the House. [9]

Early life and education

Sylvester Turner was born on September 27, 1954, in Houston, Texas, the sixth of nine children of Eddie Turner, a commercial painter, and Ruby Mae Turner. [1] He was raised in the northwest Houston community of Acres Homes. [1] After his father's death when Turner was 13, his mother began working as a maid at the Rice Hotel in downtown Houston. [1] [10] Turner later credited her perseverance and optimism as significant influences on his personal and professional development. [1]

Turner attended Klein High School, [11] which, at the time, was an all-white school until Black students, including Turner, were bussed there as part of desegregation efforts. [1] At Klein, Turner excelled academically, serving as student body president, winning recognition as a debate champion, and graduating as valedictorian. [1] He went on to study at the University of Houston, where he served as Speaker of the Student Senate and graduated magna cum laude in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. [12] Turner had been interested in a legal career from a young age, inspired in part by the TV show Perry Mason , and he went on to attend Harvard Law School, where he was a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1980. [1] [13] [14] Turner was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, [15] and was initiated into the Alpha Eta Lambda chapter in Houston. [16]

Upon completing law school, Turner joined the law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski. [17] In 1983, Turner and Barry M. Barnes partnered to found the law firm of Barnes & Turner, [17] [18] where Turner specialized in corporate and commercial law. [8] [19] Turner served as an immigration lawyer for many years in Houston. [20]

He served as an adjunct professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and as a seminar lecturer at the South Texas College of Law and the University of Houston Law School's Continuing Legal Education Programs. [11] [21]

Political career

In 1984, Turner ran for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 1 in the Democratic primary, but lost to El Franco Lee. Four years later, he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in House District 139 in Harris County and remained in office through 2014. During this time, Turner ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Houston in 1991 and 2003. [22]

During Turner's 1991 campaign for Houston mayor, Wayne Dolcefino of KTRK-TV ran an investigative report questioning Turner's involvement in an elaborate life insurance fraud scam. The resulting scandal ultimately cost Turner the election. Turner sued Dolcefino and KTRK and was initially awarded a $5.5 million libel settlement in a jury trial; the trial court reduced the award to $3.25 million, in keeping with the legal limit on punitive damages. [23] Dolcefino and KTRK appealed the verdict to the Court of Appeals, Houston, which reversed the original verdict. [23] Turner brought the case to the Texas Supreme Court, which upheld the Court of Appeals decision. Both courts found that Turner had not provided sufficient evidence to prove malice, based on heightened legal protections that the First Amendment affords to the press. However, both courts found that the KTRK broadcasts were both false and defamatory. [24]

Turner with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in January 2017. 01.08 Zong Tong Guo Jing Mei Guo Xiu Shi Dun Shi ,Hui Wu Xiu Shi Dun Shi Chang Tang Na (Sylvester Turner),Bing Yu Tang Na He Ying (32080635191).jpg
Turner with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in January 2017.

Turner served more than 25 years in the Texas House of Representatives, and throughout his service, he served as a member of the Legislative Budget Board, Vice-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Chairman of the Subcommittee of Articles 1, 4 & 5 (General Government, Judiciary, Public Safety & Criminal Justice) and the House State Affairs Committee. He also chaired the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the Greater Houston Area Legislative Delegation. [25] Turner supported policies to attract doctors to underserved areas, [26] [27] proposed a measure increasing state funding for mental health services in Harris County from $32 million to $200 million, [28] and worked to increase funds for legal aid for poor Texans. [29]

In 2015, Turner was elected Mayor of Houston, narrowly winning a runoff against Bill King [30] after taking 31% of the vote on the first ballot. [31] He was re-elected in 2019 [32] and served in the office for eight years. [33]

In October 2017, Turner helped victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. [34]

When Turner's eight year tenure as mayor ended on January 1, 2024, the city was in a dire financial state. [33] The city was spending $100 to $200 million more than what it was bringing in each year. [35] [36] In 2023, Turner endorsed Sheila Jackson Lee to be his successor in the 2023 Houston mayoral election; she lost the runoff election by nearly 30 percentage points. [37]

Following the death of Sheila Jackson Lee, which vacated Texas's 18th congressional district, Turner announced his candidacy in the Democratic primary to fill her seat [38] and was nominated at the convention. [6] He won the election and took office in January 2025. [39] He served in Congress until his death on March 5, 2025. [9]

Hurricane Harvey

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Turner received criticism for his decision not to suggest any form of evacuation. He responded to the criticism by pointing out the logistics of evacuating "6.5 million" people and the deaths and traffic that occurred during the 2005 Hurricane Rita evacuation. Critics replied stating that 6.5 million people did not have to be evacuated but instead tens of thousands could have been evacuated who were in flood zones or individuals who were most at risk during emergencies could have been evacuated. [40] [41] [42] [43]

Political positions

Ride sharing mobile apps

In 2016, Turner voiced his support for stricter laws regulating Uber and other ridesharing services. Texas in 2016 led the country in drunk driving fatalities, according to data collected by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) in 2016. MADD said there were 1,438 traffic fatalities in Texas involving drunk driving in 2016. [44]

LGBT rights

Turner, while running against Bill King in the 2015 Houston mayoral runoff election, stated he was "100 percent" committed to reenacting Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) and attacked Bill King for saying he would not revisit the issue of HERO or his support from the Campaign for Houston. [45] [ better source needed ]

Consumer protections

Turner discussing Houston's path to becoming a smart city at an event by New America in January 2019. Rebuilding a Smarter City- Lessons From Houston (32997671758).jpg
Turner discussing Houston's path to becoming a smart city at an event by New America in January 2019.

In 1999, Turner voted to restructure the electric utility industry in Texas to allow customers competition and consumer choice. [46] During his time in the legislature, he also worked to continue to protect Texans, voting for bills preventing gas companies from cutting off service during freezing temperatures, [47] limiting the amount utility companies could raise rates in order to fund certain projects, such as building electric poles and wires, without first getting approval from state regulators, [48] and authoring legislation that required the Public Utility Commission to conduct cost-benefit analyses of any proposals from utility companies that would add more than $100 million to annual consumer electricity costs. [49] During the 84th session, Turner authored legislation that would prohibit electricity companies from charging customers "minimum usage fees" when they used too little electricity. [50] Turner also voted to allow the Public Utility Commission to issue emergency cease-and-desist orders, without first going to a court, to companies whose actions threaten the state's electricity supply. [51] During the 83rd session, he joined a campaign to encourage low-income Texans to enroll in "LITE-UP Texas", a program "authorized by the Texas Legislature through which participants could reduce the monthly cost of electric service by 82%." [52] In the 84th session, he authored a bill to extend this discount program for another two years, until the end of 2017. [53] He also co-authored a bill to help ensure persons living in multi-family residences are alerted when their electricity bill has not been paid. [54]

Public education

In 2004, he voted against a measure that would have scaled "back benefits for future public school employees and discourag[ed] early retirement." [55] He was also critical of investment managers for the Teachers Retirement Fund for taking over $8.2 million in bonuses while the state was slashing funding for education and the system's investments continued to struggle. [56] In 2011, Turner voted against a measure that would have implemented a 6 percent cut to education funding for all schools in Texas, a move that equated to a $4 billion education funding cut. [57] As a member of the legislature, Turner voted against a measure that would allow school districts to lower their salaries, implement furlough days, [58] and increase student-teacher classroom ratios. [59] He also opposed a corporate tax break that many legislators, in the Texas House of Representatives, believed would hurt public school funding. [60]

Immigration

Texas has banned sanctuary cities, [61] but then Mayor Turner said that Houston would not assist ICE agents with immigration raids. [62]

Health care

A supporter of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), Turner voted against joining the Interstate Health Care Compact, an alternative to traditional ACA participation, [63] and introduced legislation that would expand Medicaid in Texas pursuant to the ACA. [64] Turner warned fellow legislators about the potential backlash from constituents if the state chose not to expand Medicaid, which promised a significant return on the state's investment. [65] One of his major accomplishments in the House was legislation that expanded access to the children's health insurance program, which was passed in 2007. Turner also passed legislation in 2015 to free up funding for medical trauma care centers. [11] During the 84th Legislature, Turner introduced legislation that would provide care under Medicaid for people with severe and persistent mental illness and who are transitioning from an institution to the community, and who are at risk of institutionalization or re-institutionalization.[ citation needed ]

Turner was a regular attendee of various public health programs, including contributions to COVID-19 safety and community-based health care. [66] [67]

Abortion

Turner was long an advocate for abortion rights. He voted against a measure requiring doctors to perform a sonogram on women seeking an abortion at least 24 hours before the procedures. [68] He also fought to protect funding for family planning programs and Planned Parenthood. [69] Turner also voted against a Senate version of a measure that banned abortions after 20 weeks and tightened standards on abortion clinics, [70] and also authored an amendment to the bill that would have required the state to pay the costs abortion clinics would incur on the measure to retrofit facilities so they could be certified as surgical centers. [71] In 2013, the El Paso Times described Turner as a "lion of pro-abortion rights." [72]

Criminal justice

On gun control, Turner opposed measures to limit lawsuits against gun or ammunition manufacturers, [73] allowing concealed handguns on higher education campuses, and rescinding the authority of local governments to ban concealed weapons on public property. [74] He also opposed measures that would reduce the number of training hours required to receive a concealed handgun license. [75] He supported a bill that prohibited the use of state funds for the enforcement of federal firearms regulations. [76] Turner also advocated abandoning the "pick-a-pal system", where judges appoint commissioners who then can pick whoever they want to serve on grand juries. [77]

Homelessness

As mayor of Houston, Turner made it a goal of his administration to end chronic homelessness in the city. [78] Turner asked the police to start enforcing an ordinance that bans sharing food with homeless people in the city of Houston. [79] Consequently, the Food Not Bombs volunteer group in Houston received 44 tickets issued by the Houston police department for providing food to homeless people in Houston, with each ticket carrying a maximum potential fine of $2,000. [80]

Political endorsements

In February 2020, Turner endorsed Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. [81] [82] In March, Bloomberg suspended his campaign and endorsed then-vice president Joe Biden. [83] Days after Bloomberg's announcement, Turner endorsed Biden. [84]

Personal life

Turner was married to Cheryl (née Gillum) Turner, a former Harris County assistant district attorney, from 1983 to late 1991. [14] [85] They have one daughter, Ashley Page Turner, who married Jimmie Captain in March 2022. [86] [87]

As mayor, Turner hosted the opening ceremonies of Anime Matsuri from 2018 to 2023, barring 2020, [88] having made appearances in anime cosplay as a member of the Akatsuki from Naruto in 2018, Goku from Dragon Ball in 2019, Kyōjurō Rengoku from Demon Slayer in 2021, [89] Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach in 2022, and Luffy from One Piece in 2023. [90]

Illness and death

In November 2022, Turner disclosed that during the summer he had been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, [91] for which he had surgery and received six weeks of radiation treatment. [92]

On the afternoon of March 4, 2025, Turner fell ill while working in the Cannon House Office Building complex, but after receiving medical attention was able to attend President Donald Trump's address to Congress that evening. [9] Later, he was briefly hospitalized before discharge to his Washington residence, where he died in the early morning of March 5 at the age of 70. [93] [94] He is the first member of the 119th Congress to die in office and the second incumbent representative for Texas's 18th district to die in a one-year period, after Sheila Jackson Lee. [94]

Houston's mayor, John Whitmire, paid tribute to Turner and their friendship, and ordered flags in the city of Houston to fly at half-staff in Turner's memory. [95] [96] [97] Texas governor Greg Abbott ordered flags across the state of Texas to fly at half-staff for Turner until sunrise on March 8, 2025. [98] [99] [100]

Turner lay in state at the Houston City Hall rotunda on March 11, 2025 with the Combined Honor Guard of the Houston Fire, and Houston Police posted colors at the front steps of City Hall as his casket, which donned the U.S. flag, arrived at the building. [101] [102] His lying in state at Houston City Hall was open to the public, with his family and local officials showing up to honor Turner. [102] Mayor Whitmire opened the event by making brief remarks and asking the Combined Honor Guard of the Houston Fire and Houston Police Departments to lead members of Houston City Council, dignitaries, and guests into the City Hall Rotunda to pay respects to Turner. [102] [101]

From March 13-14, 2025, Turner lay in honor at the Texas State Capitol's House chamber. [103] [104] [105] The event was open to the public, with friends, family, and state legislators being among those who paid tribute. [103] [105]

Turner's funeral took place at The Church Without Walls in Houston on March 15, 2025. That date also marked the 60th anniversary of Lyndon B. Johnson's Voting Rights address to Congress. The event aired on some local media and was also attended by members of the public, with full attendance capacity being reported. [106] [107] [108] [109] Pastor Ralph West officiated the service, while gospel artists Yolanda Adams and V. Michael McKay performed. [108] Turner's daughter Ashley delivered his eulogy. [109] Public officials included: Councilwoman Tiffany Green Congressman Al Green, Mayor John Whitmire, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, and former Houston Fire Chief Sam Peña. [107] Thomas, Gonzalez, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Councilman Edward Pollard, Dr. Abdul Haleem Muhammad, U.S. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, and various ministers were among those who spoke at the event. [107] [107] [108] Members of the U.S. Honor Guard carried Turner's casket to and from the church. [107] [108] His burial then took place in private. [106] [110]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scherer, Jasper (March 5, 2025). "Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner dies". Texas Tribune . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Our Campaigns – Houston Mayor Race – Nov 04, 2003" . Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  3. ↑ Groogan, Greg (March 1, 2014). "Sylvester Turner eyes Houston Mayor job". Fox Houston. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Cooper, Nakia. "Sylvester Turner announces candidacy for mayor". Archived from the original on October 19, 2015. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Sylvester Turner wins Houston mayoral runoff election". Click2Houston. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Choi, Matthew (August 13, 2024). "Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is the Democrats' pick for Jackson Lee seat in Congress". The Texas Tribune . Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sylvester Turner wins in Texas' 18th Congressional District". Fox 26 Houston. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Statement from the Office of Congressman Sylvester Turner on His Passing" (PDF) (Press release). Washington, DC: sylvesterturner.house.gov. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Wong, Scott; Asghar, Syedah (March 5, 2025). "Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Texas Democrat, dies at 70". NBCNews.com . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "About – Sylvester Turner". Sylvester Turner for Mayor. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "The Honorable Sylvester Turner". The History Makers. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Mayor Sylvester Turner". Rotary Club of Houston, TX. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ "1979 Ames Moot Court Competition". November 1, 1979. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Sylvester Turner, freshman congressman from Texas, dies at 70" . The Washington Post . March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  15. ↑ Meeks, Flori (August 2, 2006). "Black fraternity has outreach, education as top priorities". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
  16. ↑ "In Memoriam: Brother Congressman Sylvester Turner". Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  17. 1 2 "About". Congressman Sylvester Turner, 18th District of Texas. house.gov. January 3, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  18. ↑ "BB & A: About us". Barry Barnes & Associates, PLLC. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  19. ↑ Grunau, Sarah (March 5, 2025). "Longtime Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner dies at age 70". Houston Public Media.
  20. ↑ Crowther, Linnea (March 5, 2025). "Sylvester Turner (1954–2025), freshman congressman from Texas". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  21. ↑ Luhn, Bryan. "Sylvester Turner, U.S. Congressman, Former Houston Mayor and UH Alumnus, Passes Away". University of Houston. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Houston Mayor". OurCampaigns.
  23. 1 2 "DOLCEFINO KTRK v. TURNER (1998)". Court of Appeals of Texas, Houston (14th Dist.). December 30, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Sylvester TURNER, Petitioner, v. KTRK TELEVISION, INC. and Wayne Dolcefino, Respondents". findlaw.com. December 21, 2000. Retrieved December 2, 2019. We therefore hold that the broadcast as a whole conveyed a false and defamatory message. ~Supreme Court of Texas
  25. ↑ "Texas House of Representatives". Texas House of Representatives.
  26. ↑ "Governor signs historic physician loan repayment bill". Your Houston News.
  27. ↑ Harris, Terrance (March 5, 2025). "Congressman, former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70". DefenderNetwork.com. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  28. ↑ Pinkerton, James (January 31, 2013). "As mental illness permeates streets, police, jail struggle". Houston Chronicle.
  29. ↑ "Texas Legislature Responds to Need for Increased Legal Aid Funding; Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation Will Manage Additional $3 Million Appropriated by Legislature". Business Wire (Press release).
  30. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (December 12, 2015). "Turner Wins Nailbiter of a Mayor's Race in Houston". Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  31. ↑ KTRK (November 4, 2015). "Turner, King headed for runoff for Houston mayor". ABC13 Houston. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  32. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (December 14, 2019). "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner claims easy reelection win in runoff". Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  33. 1 2 Abby Church, Dylan Mcguinness. "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner defends city's financial state". www.houstonchronicle.com.
  34. ↑ "Houston Shares Its Relief Bounty With Puerto Rico". www.meetings-conventions.com (Press release).
  35. ↑ "Mayor Sylvester Turner pushes back after new budget report cites issues within Houston". October 27, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Houston in Crisis: Mayor drops bombshell on city's financial state – Could tax hikes, budget cuts be on the horizon?". March 20, 2024.
  37. ↑ Zuvanich, Adam (November 8, 2023). "Mayor Sylvester Turner endorses Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston mayoral runoff". houstonpublicmedia.org.
  38. ↑ Walsh, Andrew Schneider, Dominic Anthony (August 2, 2024). "Sylvester Turner, Amanda Edwards among candidates vying for Sheila Jackson Lee's open seat". Houston Public Media. Retrieved August 3, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ↑ "Congressman Sylvester Turner Swearing-In Ceremony". stylemagazine.com.
  40. ↑ "Texas Governor, Mayor Split Over Whether Houston Needed Evacuations". The Wall Street Journal. August 27, 2017.
  41. ↑ "Why was Houston not evacuated before Hurricane Harvey?". BBC News. August 29, 2017.
  42. ↑ "Houston mayor defends decision not to issue evacuation order". ABC News. August 27, 2017.
  43. ↑ "Questions swirl around Houston mayor's evacuation decision". AP NEWS. August 30, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Uber threatens exit over fingerprint rules, Mayor says no compromise on public safety". Culturemap. Retrieved April 27, 2015.
  45. ↑ "100 Percent Committed to a City Without Discrimination". Sylvester Turner. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  46. ↑ "Texas House Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2009.
  47. ↑ "Texas House Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2009.
  48. ↑ Galbraith, Kate. "Bill helps utilities increase rates". Downtown El Paso. Archived from the original on July 14, 2015.
  49. ↑ Pickrell, Emily (March 20, 2013). "Bill would force agency to consider consumer power costs".
  50. ↑ Malewitz, Jim (April 2, 2015). "Legislation Would Ban Fees for Conserving Electricity".
  51. ↑ "House gives utility commission emergency powers". Statesman. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  52. ↑ Turner, Sylvester. "Rep. Sylvester Turner urge low-income Texans to enroll in state electricity discount program". Texas House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  53. ↑ Osborne, James. "Electricity assistance for low-income Texans close to reprieve". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  54. ↑ George, Cindy (January 11, 2014). "New laws provide more protections for Texas tenants". Houston Chronicle.
  55. ↑ "House Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2009.
  56. ↑ Hoppe, Christy; Timms, Ed. "Texas teacher pension fund gave more in bonuses than all other state agencies combined, analysis shows". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  57. ↑ "SB 1811 – Reduces Funding for State Agencies – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  58. ↑ "SB 8 – Management and Operation of Public Schools – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  59. ↑ Smith, Morgan (June 16, 2011). "House Approves Key Education Bills". The Texas Tribune.
  60. ↑ Ficak, Peggy (May 8, 2013). "House bill grants businesses $667M in tax relief". Chron.
  61. ↑ Shoichet, Catherine E. (May 9, 2019). "Florida is about to ban sanctuary cities. At least 11 other states have, too". CNN.
  62. ↑ "U.S. Cities Prepare For Planned ICE Raids". NPR. July 13, 2019.
  63. ↑ "HB 5 – Interstate Health Care Compact – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  64. ↑ Aaronson, Becca (April 16, 2013). "House Panel Debates Medicaid Expansion Proposal". The Texas Tribune.
  65. ↑ "Hearing highlights Medicaid expansion rift". The Statesman. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  66. ↑ Rozen, Sierra (December 13, 2021). "Texas Children's Hospital to partner with city of Houston for COVID-19 vaccine event". impact. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  67. ↑ Karya Property Management (May 18, 2021). "Houston Officially Welcomes the Karya Kares Clinic". GlobeNewswire News Room (Press release). Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  68. ↑ "HB 15 – Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  69. ↑ "SB 7 – Health Care – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  70. ↑ Grissom, Brandi (June 24, 2013). "Abortion, Protests, Transportation as Session Nears End". The Texas Tribune.
  71. ↑ Tuma, Mary. "Anti-Abortion Bill Officially Advanced by House". San Antonio Current.
  72. ↑ Schladen, Marty (July 12, 2013). "Texas state rep Bryan Hughes focused on abortion message". El Paso Times . Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  73. ↑ "The Galveston Daily News from Galveston, Texas • Page 5". The Galveston Daily News. May 18, 1999.
  74. ↑ "Texas House Journal" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2009.
  75. ↑ "HB 928 – Prohibits State Funds from Being Used for the Enforcement of Federal Firearm Regulations – Key Vote". Vote Smart.
  76. ↑ "Vote Smart". SB 864 – Reduces Required Hours for Concealed Handgun License Training – Key Vote.
  77. ↑ Barajas, Michael. "Watch Rep. Sylvester Turner's Cri de Coeur for Grand Jury Reform". Houston Press.
  78. ↑ Kimmelman, Michael; Tompkins, Lucy; Lee, Christopher (June 14, 2022). "How Houston Moved 25,000 People From the Streets Into Homes of Their Own". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  79. ↑ Brown, Ashley. "Group says they will continue to feed homeless despite city's enforcement of anti food sharing ordinance".
  80. ↑ Sainato, Michael (August 4, 2023). "Houston volunteers face thousands in fines for feeding homeless". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  81. ↑ Samuels, Alex (February 13, 2020). "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said Mike Bloomberg's apology for "stop and frisk" was key to endorsement". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  82. ↑ DeBenedetto, Paul (February 13, 2020). "Sylvester Turner Endorses Mike Bloomberg In 2020 Democratic Primary". Houston Public Media. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  83. ↑ Oprysko, Caitlin; Durkin, Erin (March 4, 2020). "2020 Elections: Bloomberg drops out of presidential race, endorses Biden". Politico . Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  84. ↑ "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner now endorses Joe Biden". FOX 26 Houston. March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  85. ↑ Rogers, Brian (September 7, 2006). "Ex-assistant district attorney gets prison in estate theft". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  86. ↑ Cochran, Amanda (August 6, 2021). "PHOTOS: Houston's first daughter Ashley Turner shares her engagement pictures". KPRC-TV Click2Houston. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  87. ↑ Elliott, Amber (March 14, 2022). "Mayor Turner's daughter Ashley Turner weds in custom gown at Citadel Houston". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  88. ↑ Davidson, Danica (August 15, 2023). "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Cosplays Every Year". Otaku USA Magazine. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  89. ↑ Carson, Dan (July 12, 2021). "Mayor Sylvester Turner dresses up in 'Demon Slayer' robes for controversial anime festival". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  90. ↑ Garcia, Ariana (August 12, 2023). "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner channels 'One Piece' for popular anime convention". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  91. ↑ "Mayor Turner diagnosed with bone cancer over the summer". khou.com. November 2, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  92. ↑ Carson, Dan (November 2, 2022). "Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner reveals he was treated for bone cancer". Houston Chronicle . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  93. ↑ Lozano, Juan A. (March 5, 2025). "US Rep. and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70". Associated Press . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  94. 1 2 Svitek, Patrick; Hermann, Peter; Kane, Paul (March 5, 2025). "Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas found dead, law enforcement official says" . The Washington Post . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  95. ↑ Kile, Meredith (March 5, 2025). "Newly Elected Texas Congressman, Who Replaced Late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Dies Hours After Attending Trump's Speech". People . Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  96. ↑ "Rep. Sylvester Turner remembered: Reaction to former Houston mayor's death". Fox 26 Houston. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  97. ↑ "Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor and Congressman for District 18, dead at 70". KTRK. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  98. ↑ "Rep. Sylvester Turner dies: Texas gov. orders flags to half-staff for former Houston mayor". Fox 26 Houston. March 5, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  99. ↑ Homer, Michell (March 5, 2025). "Texas Gov. Greg Abbott orders flags flown at half staff to commemorate the life of Congressman Sylvester Turner". KHOU. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  100. ↑ Governor Greg Abbott (March 5, 2025). "Flag Status: Half-Staff". Office of the Texas Governor, Greg Abbott. Retrieved March 5, 2025. ...pursuant to Sections 3100.065 and 443.024(e) of the Texas Government Code and Title 4 of the U.S. Code (4 U.S.C. § 1 et seq), the flags of the State of Texas and the United States of America shall be lowered statewide to half-staff immediately in honor of the life and public service of United States Representative Sylvester Turner of the 18th Congressional District in Texas.
  101. 1 2 Spurs, Terrian (March 11, 2025). "Longtime former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner honored at City Hall". Fox 26 Houston. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  102. 1 2 3 Church, Abby (March 11, 2025). "Residents, elected officials honor former mayor, U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner at Houston City Hall". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  103. 1 2 Grunau, Sarah (March 14, 2025). "State lawmakers, friends honor former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's legacy at Texas Capitol". Houston Public Radio. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  104. ↑ Cantu, Fred (March 13, 2025). "State lawmaker turned congressman Sylvester Turner to lie in honor at Texas Capitol". CBS Austin . Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  105. 1 2 Galvan, Jaime E.; Homer, Michelle; Miles, Jason (March 13, 2025). "Former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner lies in honor at Texas State Capitol". KHOU. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  106. 1 2 "How to watch funeral for congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner". WFAA. March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  107. 1 2 3 4 5 Homer, Michelle; Galvin, Jaime E. (March 15, 2025). "Final farewell for former mayor, Congressman Sylvester Turner". KHOU. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  108. 1 2 3 4 "Sylvester Turner funeral held in Houston on Saturday". Fox 26 Houston. March 15, 2025. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
  109. 1 2 Homer, Michelle. "How to watch the funeral for congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner". KHOU. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  110. ↑ Washington, Chad (March 8, 2025). "Funeral arrangements finalized for former Houston mayor, U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner". KTSM. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by
Clint Hackney
 Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 139th district
1989–2016		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Houston
2016–2024		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th congressional district
2025		Vacant
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