Carter Turner Announces Candidacy for VA House of Delegates Threatening Power Structure in Richmond

SALEM, Va. - Aug. 8, 2018 - PRLog -- Carter Turner of Roanoke County today announced his intention to seek the recently vacated 8th District seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Having served as Chair of the Roanoke County Democratic Committee, Turner is known for his ability to bring opposing groups together to find meaningful middle ground. This reputation has earned him the respect of leaders from both sides of the aisle.

"Carter is exactly the kind of thoughtful and articulate leader we need in the House," said Delegate Chris Hurst of the 12th District. "He is a visionary who genuinely understands the needs of the people in his community and is willing to champion their cause."

Turner has never been one to shy away from the hard topics. Known for his deep knowledge of the issues and an understanding of what drives both sides of the conversation -- Carter has been a go-to for both local and national political commentary for the past several election cycles.

"I am committed to empowering the people in my home community – especially those who have been left behind in our complex economy. We need to create tools and resources to improve lives – including expanded broadband and affordable higher education options," said Turner.  "I am a strong advocate for expanding Interstate-81 in the Roanoke Valley and believe Virginia needs to take bold steps to address the opioid crisis, expand healthcare to all individuals and protects women's reproductive rights."

Carter was born in Culpeper, Virginia, moving to Salem with his family at age 7.  A 1987 graduate of Salem High School, he was a member of the 1986 Regional Championship football team and co-captain of the tennis team. After graduating from Virginia Tech with a B.A. in History where he served as an executive officer in the German Club, he earned an M.A. from the Iliff School of Theology, and a Ph.D. in Religious and Theological Studies from the University of Denver.  Spending most of his career in academia, he was an Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Radford University for nearly a decade and now serves as their Associate Director of Advancement. He has been married for 22 years to Karen who serves as Chief Administrative Officer at Community Housing Partners. Their daughter Callaway is a sophomore at Penn State University.

The election is set for Tuesday, November 6th. With the balance of power in Richmond at stake, the campaign is likely to be contentious and voter turnout is expected to be high.

"Carter Turner is part of a new generation of leaders who are moved to public service to genuinely benefit their community," said State Senator John Edwards. "He is exactly what the people of the 8th District need, and I know Carter will stand up to represent this region in Richmond and help move the whole Commonwealth forward."

The public is invited to join Turner for Delegate supporters, at a campaign rally where he is expected to lay out the details of his platform and energize the party.

What:          Turner for Delegate Campaign Rally
Where:          Parkway Brewery; 739 Kessler Mill Rd in Salem, VA
When:          Thursday, August 9, 2018 at 2 pm

www.TurnerForDelegate.com