Getting to Know Trenton and Ewing: Shirley Turner
Shirley Turner is an American Democratic Party Politician. She has been a part of the United States Legislature since 1998, where she currently serves as the New Jersey State Senator representing the 15th Legislative District. Previous to 1998, she had been involved as the Vice President of the Mercer County Board of Freeholders, part of the Township of Lawrence Zoning Board, Mercer County Improvement Authority and N.J. State Council on the Arts. She was also a part of the General Assembly (1994-98), the Associate Minority Leader (1996-98), Democratic President Pro Tempore (2002-03), President Pro Tempore (2004-09). Her main focuses revolve around working towards the health, safety and well-being of children in New Jersey. This also includes being able to help strengthen families by promoting health care that is affordable, public education promotion, and supporting small businesses (including helping develop economies and job growth).
There are several things she is working towards that can be potential news ideas which include:
- Expanding smoking ban to outdoor recreational/sports facilities which includes boardwalks, marinas, racetracks, and other historical sites. This is a part of her movement to promote better public health on the rise against smoking.
- Working towards establishing a permanent Interdistrict Public School Choice program in the Department of Education. Because she is the chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Turner has been a part of overseeing legislation that for primary and secondary education schools, continues to improve and maintain New Jersey as one of the top performing schools in the United States.
- She is advocating for educational rights for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. She does not want children to have limited environments that can take away from their learning and educational opportunities.
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/bio.asp?Leg=47
http://www.njsendems.org/turner-bills-to-support-educational-needs-of-deaf-students-advance/
https://whyy.org/articles/n-j-lawmaker-wants-to-expand-smoking-ban-to-boardwalks-marinas-racetracks/
