Shirley Turner

Ewing (October 24, 2007) – Bob Martin, Republican State Senate candidate in the 15th district, today responded to a request by incumbent Democrat Shirley Turner for a debate on October 26th.

For a candidate who’s running for state Senate against a powerful, entrenched incumbent in a heavily Democratic district, Bob Martin has put a lot at stake.

The 50-year-old Hopewell Township resident, a partner at the consulting firm Accenture, has pumped nearly $100,000 of his own money into his race against Shirley Turner, who’s running for her fourth term in the Senate.  But the district’s numbers alone – a 3-1 Democratic registration advantage, --look almost insurmountable.

State Sen. Shirley Turner's support of senatorial courtesy is wrong and it reflects "what's wrong with our politicians in Trenton," says he 15th district GOP opponent, Bob Martin.  “It concerns me that Senator Turner views Senatorial Courtesy as acceptable because every other senator is doing it,” said Martin, who has pledged to end the practice.  “I’m also concerned that Senator Turner does not see this process as an obstacle to an effective, transparent and honest government.”

District 15 state Senate candidate Bob Martin wants his opponent, Shirley Turner, to join him in calling for an end to the practice of senatorial courtesy.

Martin said he would support a state constitutional amendment to ban the practice, an unwritten rule that allows a Senator to hold up the nomination of any official from his or her home district or county. Martin said that he would support forcing every nomination to come before the Senate within 90 days of the governor’s pick.

The Mercer County Central Labor Council, which represents 55 unions, has endorsed Democrats Ellen Karcher and Shirley Turner, and Republican Bill Baroni for State Senate in the three districts that include parts of Mercer. The CLC is also backing Democratic candidates for State Assembly and Mercer County Executive.

In Mercer County, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 73, which represents more than 11,000 public-sector employees throughout central New Jersey, announced their endorsements in this year’s elections.

In the 14th district, the union declared it’s support for Bill Baroni for Senate, and Linda Greenstein and Wayne DeAngelo for Assembly.

In the 15th district, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman were endorsed for re-election.

Ewing (September 10, 2007) – Bob Martin, Republican State Senate candidate in the 15th district, has challenged Senator Shirley Turner to a series of debates. Martin has sent an email and letter to the Turner campaign requested 5 debates in 5 towns. Martin has suggested that the candidates debate in Ewing, Hopewell, Lawrence, Princeton, and Trenton. Each debate will cover topics of interest to each of the communities where the debate is held.

Is Shirley Turner really in trouble, or did someone just spin Joe Donohue? In a review of competitive State Senate races for the upcoming mid-term elections, The Star-Ledger listed the 15th district as one of the in-play seats that the GOP needs to win to take control of the Senate.

Republican newcomer Robert Martin is self-financing his race against Turner, and Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance has become infatuated with his candidacy. Martin has done some early mail and cable TV ads, and GOP insiders say he plans to spend a few hundred thousand dollars.

Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, under fire from Republican Senate candidates upset with their lack of financial support and political guidance from the Senate GOP, is giving some consideration to putting money into the fifteenth district, where three-term State Senator Shirley Turner is seeking re-election.

Lance seems infatuated with first-time candidate Bob Martin,

TURNER HISTORIC SITE BILL ENACTED - BIG WIN FOR TAXPAYERS

TRENTON - Senator Shirley K. Turner today said the enactment of her bill, S-2808, by Governor Corzine is "good news for Princeton taxpayers" because it removes a property tax exemption for the private Cottage Club.