Johnnie R. Turner was given only three minutes on Monday to sum of her qualifications for the District 85 state House seat that her husband, the late state Rep. Larry Turner, had occupied for 25 years.

State Rep. Johnnie R. Turner is awash with microphones wielded by journalists seeking her reaction to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ decision to tap her to fill the unexpired term of her late husband, Rep. Larry Turner. (Photo by Wiley Henry)

Those three minutes apparently were enough to convince seven Shelby County commissioners to send Turner packing for Nashville. Those in favor of Turner were Mike Carpenter, J.W. Gipson ll, Deidre Malone, Henri Brooks, Edith A. Moore, Steve Mulroy and Chairman Joyce Avery.

She was sworn in at the state House at noon on Tuesday.

“It was much, much better than I thought,” said Turner, who mingled freely with fellow Democrats and Republicans and was greeted with comforting words, many of them about her husband.

“The people were nice to me. Many of them know me for my lobbying for the NAACP. They greeted me from both sides of the isle,” said Turner, who plans to take a leave of absence from the NAACP as the executive director.

Turner has been at the helm of the civil rights organization for 14 years. In that role, “I influence decisions,” she said. “Now, in the Legislature, my role is to make decisions.”

After the swearing in, Turner cast her first vote and spoke on the House floor. She also was assigned to the education committee and the committee for consumer and employee affairs.

“I was so excited to be assigned to the education committee,” Turner said late Tuesday evening after the lawmakers adjourned. “As for the consumer and employee affairs committee, there will be a learning curb – but I will get it.”

The freshman lawmaker also attended a Democratic Women’s Caucus meeting and joined in on the conversation about the death penalty. The conversation, she said, piqued her interest.

“As the new kid on the block, I’ve long been an advocate against the death penalty because there are a disproportionate number of African Americans. I’m just against the death penalty,” she said.

“The first day on the job was exciting, and I didn’t think about being tired until we adjourned around 6 p.m.,” said Turner, 69. “I’m exhausted (now) because of the swearing in, committee assignments, special sessions, and the governor’s speech about education – which I’m passionate about.”

Although the day was long, Turner said working late and working hard “is a part of who I am. I’m a professional. My work ethic prepared me for today (Jan. 12).

“I feel so right for this position,” she added. “They didn’t just choose a housewife to come here (Nashville), they chose a community activist who came here to work.”

John Pellicciott, the newest commissioner

John Pellicciotti, a 35-year-old Germantown resident, waited nervously through eight rounds before he was picked to replace former commissioner Matt Kuhn in District 4. Kuhn vacated the seat and took a job in the administration of County Mayor Joe Ford (center.) (Photo by Wiley Henry)

While it took only two rounds for commissioners to appoint Turner to the interim position in District 85, John Pellicciotti, a 35-year-old Germantown resident, waited nervously through eight rounds before he was picked to replace former commissioner Matt Kuhn in District 4. Kuhn vacated the seat and took a job in County Mayor Joe Ford’s administration.

Voting for Pellicciotti were George Flinn, Joyce Avery, Wyatt Bunker, Mike Carpenter, Steve Mulroy, J.W. Gibson II, and Mike Ritz.

Pellicciotti competed with eight Republicans and Independents for the job and was sworn in immediately as the newest commissioner. He will serve until the next election Sept. 1.

Pellicciott is an employee with Pomeroy IT Solutions, owner of Personal Touch Bodywerks, a classic car restoration company, and owner of rental properties.

He has a bachelor’s in business management in information systems and is currently working toward a master’s in political science from the University of Memphis.