Lawmaker dies after plunging into swimming pool on lawn mower

Kentucky authorities Sen. Johnnie Turner, known for his staunch support for nan ember manufacture and different causes successful his Appalachian district, has died aft being injured astatine location past period erstwhile he plunged into an quiet swimming excavation while aboard a section mower. He was 76.

Turner, a Harlan Republican, was known for his folksy mode that endeared him to constituents and colleagues alike. Turner died Tuesday evening aft his "hard-fought battle" pinch injuries sustained successful nan accident, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said successful a connection Wednesday.

"Johnnie spent his life lifting others - whether done his work successful nan U.S. Army, arsenic a personnel of nan State House of Representatives and State Senate, aliases successful his backstage ineligible practice," Stivers said. "His unwavering committedness to nan group of eastbound Kentucky - his constituents, brothers and sisters successful Christ, whom he truthful fondly referred to arsenic 'his people' - was astatine nan bosom of everything he did."

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell recalled crossing paths pinch Turner while backmost successful his location authorities to study harm from flooding that swamped parts of eastbound Kentucky.

"Johnnie was connected nan scene, ankle-deep successful mud, his instrumentality from location successful tow, fresh to thief folks successful Letcher County," McConnell said Wednesday successful a statement. "That's conscionable who he was: a bully man who loved nan mountains and its people."

Kentucky authorities Sen. Johnnie Turner, front, gives a speech, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, successful Frankfort, Ky. Bruce Schreiner / AP

Kentucky Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer said Turner's decease was heartbreaking.

"He was conscionable an astonishing man of nan mountains, who is benignant and generous and open-minded astir supporting initiatives that were bully for nan full state, while astatine nan aforesaid clip being a fierce advocator for his region," Thayer said Wednesday successful an interview.

Turner pushed for pro-coal authorities and different measures aimed astatine uplifting his Appalachian district, spanning respective counties successful eastbound Kentucky. Coal employment, erstwhile nan backbone of nan eastbound Kentucky economy, fell sharply complete nan past decade arsenic cheaper earthy state prices and tougher biology regulations prompted electrical providers to move distant from buying coal.

In August, CBS connection WYMT interviewed Turner astir his conflict to support nan ember manufacture operating.

"This authorities trying to termination nan ember manufacture it ain't going to hap successful Kentucky it conscionable ain't going to happen," Turner told nan station.

But Turner looked good beyond his territory to backmost measures benefiting nan remainder of nan Bluegrass State, Thayer said, pointing to Turner's support for a high-stakes equine racing measure a fewer years ago. That measurement secured nan ineligible position of wagering connected slots-style humanities racing machines, a lucrative gross root for racetracks. It was a reliable ballot for Turner, who represented a socially blimpish district.

"He told maine that he saw what happened to nan ember manufacture successful eastbound Kentucky and he didn't want to spot different starring manufacture - successful this lawsuit nan equine manufacture - person nan aforesaid point hap to it," Thayer said. "I really admit his courageousness connected that."

Turner served successful nan Kentucky House from 1999 to 2002. House Speaker David Osborne said Wednesday that Turner was an "ardent champion and passionate sound for eastbound Kentucky."

"We are saddened by his loss, but cognize that his bequest will unrecorded connected successful those he helped," Osborne said.

Turner, an attorney, won predetermination to nan authorities Senate successful 2020, ousting a Democratic incumbent pinch nan aforesaid past name. Turner defeated 2 challengers successful nan Republican outpouring superior this year.

Turner was calved connected Christmas Eve successful 1947, WYMT reported. The Harlan County autochthonal served successful nan U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969 successful nan Panama Canal Zone wherever he met his wife, Maritza, nan position reported.

With his decease coming truthful adjacent to nan election, Turner's sanction will look connected nan wide predetermination ballot, nan caput of state's agency said. His lone November challenger, an independent candidate, precocious withdrew from nan race. Write-in candidates person until Friday to record for nan seat, but different a typical predetermination will beryllium needed to capable nan seat, nan caput of state's agency said.

Kentucky's GOP-dominated legislature will statesman its 2025 convention successful January. Until then, lawmakers are gathering successful interim committees to study a scope of issues successful mentation for adjacent year's 30-day session.

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