A Democratic candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives has asked incumbent Republican Eric Turner (R-Cicero) to withdraw from November’s ballot after Turner announced he would leave the legislature after this session.
Turner announced Friday he would be leaving the legislature to join a Georgia-based Christian organization.
Turner is up for re-election in November and says he will resign his seat if he is re-elected. Democratic candidate Bob Ashley says he's asked Turner to withdraw from ballot, but says Turner has refused.
“I think his announcement on Friday that he would not serve if he was elected is an affront to the voters of the 32nd District," Ashley says. "He is asking them to vote for a question mark. Precinct committeemen would choose the replacement. Nobody knows who that would be, and I’d rather run against a person.”
State law says no candidate can be removed from the ballot within 60 days of the election. Ashley’s request came 42 days before the Nov. 4 contest.
Turner has served in the Statehouse for 24 years and is the former Speaker Pro Tem. He was recently investigated by the House Ethics Committee for lobbying behind closed doors against a bill that would affect his family’s nursing home business. That investigation showed Turner committed no technical wrongdoing, but violated the spirit of the law.
Turner wasn’t available for comment, but in a statement, says while he was honored to serve in the legislature, the 62-year-old lawmaker and his wife have always wanted to serve with a Christian ministry while they still have their health.
