Sergeant Kept Senators in Their Seats - Most of the Time - For Two Decades
Senators today recognized their long-time sergeant-at-arms, Carleton Turner, who stepped down from the post after two decades just before the current legislative session began. As the man in charge of maintaining order in the chamber and enforcing Senate rules, Mr. Turner was popular with most senators over the years and several of them sang his praises on the Senate floor before presenting him with a plaque for his years of service.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst humorously suggested that Mr. Turner's record was not always stellar, after a Senate resolution read in the chamber noted his many duties, including "securing the attendance of senators." That prompted Mr. Dewhurst to quip, "I'm not sure he did a very good job on that one." His reference was to 2003 when Senate Democrats bolted the Capitol for New Mexico for several weeks to block action on a GOP-backed congressional redistricting plan.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told Mr. Turner that he could have used him last week when Democrats and Republicans were at odds over a Republican voter ID bill. At one point, Mr. Dewhurst warned Mr. Whitmire that he might be removed from the Senate chamber after the Democrat loudly voiced his anger when his vote was not initially counted on the legislation.
"I needed you last week when there was a tall guy in here threatening me on the floor," Mr. Whitmire joked about his run-in with the lieutenant governor, who stands about 6'5". A smiling Mr. Turner didn't respond, but probably breathed a sigh of relief that he was not around for the partisan standoff.