Mike Turner

Michael Ray Turner (born January 11, 1960) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative from OH's 10th congressional district since 2013.

He is a member of the Republican Party.

A non-denominational Protestant Christian, Turner was born in 1960 in Dayton, Ohio, to Vivian and Ray Turner.

His mother was a teacher in the Wayne School system in Huber Heights and his father worked as a member of IUE Local 801 for 42 years after serving in the military.

Turner was raised in East Dayton and has one sister.

Turner graduated from Belmont High School in 1978 and received his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the Ohio Northern University in 1982, a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University in 1985, an Master of Business Administration from the University of Dayton in 1992, and a Doctor of Liberal Studies in urban economic development from Georgetown University in 2022.

He practiced law with local firms and businesses in the Dayton area before entering politics.

He also practiced law during the brief time between his service as mayor of Dayton and as a member of Congress.

Turner was elected mayor of Dayton, Ohio, in 1993, narrowly defeating incumbent Mayor Richard Clay Dixon.

Before he took office, the city suffered a number of economic setbacks.

Upon taking office, Turner focused on attracting business to the city and on redeveloping vacant and underutilized real estate packages known as brownfields.

During Turner's mayoralty, Dayton reached an agreement to construct a baseball stadium for a class A minor league team affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.

Turner was the mayor of Dayton during the planning and construction of the Schuster Center, which he supported for its contribution to reviving downtown.

He facilitated discussions with key leaders from the project's conception to its completion.

The Schuster Center is a performing arts center at the corner of Second and Main Streets.

It has served as a forum for the Victoria Theatre's Broadway Series, the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Dayton Ballet, and a speaking location for visiting political leaders, such as former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

Turner also started a program called "Rehabarama", which attracted professionals to historic properties in the city.

He was reelected in 1997 over Democratic City Commissioner Tony Capizzi.

Turner got a substantial assist from the 2000s round of redistricting.

The old 3rd had been a fairly compact district centered on Dayton, but redistricting added some Republican-leaning suburbs to the east.

In 2001 he lost to then-State Senator Rhine McLin, 51.6% to 48.4%.

Turner received 58% of the vote following the retirement of 23-year incumbent Democrat Tony P. Hall from Congress after President George W. Bush named Hall U.N. Special Envoy for Hunger Issues.

Earlier that year, Turner won the Republican nomination when he defeated Roy Brown with 80% of the vote.

Brown was the son and grandson of former area Republican Congressmen Bud Brown and Clarence J. Brown and operated a local newspaper company, Brown Publishing.

In the general election, Turner defeated Congressman Tony Hall's chief of staff, Rick Carne, after Carne won the Democratic nomination.

Turner's district, numbered as the 3rd district from 2003 to 2013, is based in Dayton and consists of part of Clark County and all of Montgomery and Greene Counties.

In 2004, Turner defeated former businesswoman Jane Mitakides with over 62% of the vote.

The district was considered a key area in the swing state of Ohio in that year's presidential race.

Studebaker had previously affiliated with former Vermont Governor Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign in Ohio.

After winning the nomination, she and her husband Sam were both arrested for domestic violence.

Studebaker subsequently dropped out of the race, citing her family concerns and impending legal issues.

After her withdrawal, four Democrats entered a special primary to face Turner, won by former Assistant United States Attorney Richard Chema.

Turner defeated Chema with 58% of the vote.

Jane Mitakides beat Sanders in the Democratic primary and faced Turner in a rematch from 2004.

Turner again focused largely on economic issues of job creation and protection for workers affected by the national and regional recession.

In a difficult political climate for Republicans, Turner defeated Mitakides with 64% of the vote, his largest margin of victory in any election.

In 2006, the Democrats planned to target Turner for defeat.

Three Democrats entered the Third District primary to run against Turner in the general election.

Veterinarian Stephanie Studebaker defeated local bankruptcy attorney David Fierst and recalled Waynesville Mayor Charles W. Sanders.

Turner served as the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 2014 to 2016.