NFL player and Richardson native Scott Turner announced candidacy for state representative

by Staff of Town Square Buzz

Turner is seeking the Republican nomination in the newly-created 33rd District, which includes all of Rockwall County and portions of Collin County.

Scott Turner

Former NFL Player, Texas businessman, and national motivational speaker Scott Turner on Tuesday announced his candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives. Turner is seeking the Republican nomination in the newly-created 33rd District, which includes all of Rockwall County and portions of Collin County.

In declaring his candidacy, Turner said, “The encouragement I’ve received to enter this race has been humbling, and I am excited about the opportunity to serve. This district was created from areas currently represented by Ken Paxton and Jodie Laubenberg, both of whom have represented these areas with honor and distinction. My commitment is to provide principled, conservative leadership for Collin and Rockwall Counties. I’ll use my business and leadership skills to promote job creation and a strong economy and to champion an agenda of lower taxes and smaller government. I’ll be a forceful advocate for our traditional values of faith and family, and I will always stand for the unborn.”

Addressing the threat from Washington, Turner said, “Texans must stand firm against a federal government which threatens our freedoms, liberties, and our economy. If elected, I pledge to be a conservative voice who will work against the federal encroachment on Texas.”

A native Texan raised in Richardson, Turner secured an academic/athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois, where he played football, ran track, and earned a degree in speech communication. Most importantly, it was there that he met Robin, his wife of 15 years.

Turner has a long history of involvement in the Republican Party. He currently serves on the Board of Associated Republicans of Texas (ART) where he helped achieve historic GOP victories in the 2010 elections. George Seay, Annandale Capital CEO, provided his personal endorsement saying, "Scott Turner is a man of the highest integrity, honor, and capability. He needs to be the next conservative State Representative for House District 33. He has my enthusiastic, complete support."

Turner has business experience as both an executive and as an entrepreneur. He is director of Business Development for Systemware, Inc. and also serves as a player advisor for the NFL Players Association. Drawing on his successful NFL career and his natural speaking ability, Turner founded SPEAKAWORD, a motivational speaking company.

Turner's professional football career began in 1995, when he was drafted by the Washington Redskins. His three years with the Redskins earned him a Pro Bowl nomination for special teams play. In 1998, Turner signed with the San Diego Chargers. In four years with the Chargers, Turner earned four "Player of the Week" honors, which was a record for the team, and led to two additional Pro Bowl nominations. After nine seasons in the NFL, Turner finished his career with the Denver Broncos. As Turner football career came to a close, he became increasingly aware of the need for strong leadership and social change in our country. In 2005, he filed to run in the special election for the vacated office of California's 50th congressional district and campaigned as a conservative Republican.

Turner is proud to count J.C. Watts, a national conservative leader and former Oklahoma Congressman, as friend and supporter. Watts said, “I’ve known Scott Turner for almost a decade. He’s a man of faith, a conservative, a man of integrity. Scott Turner is the kind of man we need in public service to fight for our conservative values.”

Turner serves the community on several boards including Presbyterian Hospital’s Presidents Leadership Council, Dallas Metropolitan YMCA Board of Directors, Prestonwood Christian Academy Board of Trustees, and GuideStone Financial Board of Directors.

Turner is active at Prestonwood Church of Plano, where he currently serves as a deacon, Bible Fellowship class leader, and occasional guest pastor. A resident of Frisco, Turner was most recently the keynote speaker for the 2010 Collin County Prayer Breakfast.

Legendary author, speaker, and Prestonwood Church member Zig Ziglar said, "Scott Turner is someone you can count on. He is incredibly hardworking and trustworthy. Jean, Tom, Chachis, and the entire Ziglar family are proud to call him friend and thrilled to support him because we know from experience that he is a true difference maker."

Turner's campaign can be followed at facebook.com/ScottTurnerTX and at twitter.com/ScottTurnerTX.