The vote was 11 - 1 against Turner. His only supporter was Councilor Charles C. Yancey. Turner had to abstain from the vote, since his salary was contingent upon the outcome, leading to a conflict of interest. This is the first time in the 100-year history of the City Council that a member has been removed from office. Turner argues that the attacks from the F.B.I. came because he is black.
"The reality is that the conviction that is being used as the reason for my removal ... was a setup," said Turner. "That conviction was rotten."
Turner was convicted of taking a $1,000 bribe for helping someone obtain a liquor license. He was also convicted of lying about the bribe to investigators. Turner asked that the vote be postponed until his sentencing on January 25, 2011. He had hoped that he could get probation, which would allow him to complete his term. But the council voted not to delay its decision.
"We all know that Chuck Turner is not perfect," Yancey said during the hearing. "But neither are we."
Turner and another black political figure, Dianne Wilkerson, were arrested in 2008. A white businessman was also charged and pleaded guilty. The black businessman from whom Turner took the bribe was paid by the F.B.I. to record the conversation. The green wad of cash in Turner's hand served as a key piece of evidence in the case against him. When asked about the green wad, Turner said he couldn't remember what was handed to him.
Based on what I've read, I have no doubt in my mind that Chuck Turner is guilty of the activities for which he's being charged. The challenge for me as I assess the magnitude of his conviction is a) whether or not he's the only person on the City Council who might take such a bribe, and b) If he was singled out because of race or some other factor. In many cases, bribery convictions are simply political fallout resulting from someone ruffling the wrong feathers. I might sound cynical when I say that most corrupt politicians are never brought to the surface, yet they pretend that they are holier than thou.
I also question whether the amount of the bribe, $1,000, is serious enough for our concern. We'd be lying to ourselves if we didn't acknowledge that every powerful political figure does favors for his/her friends, and even gets financial benefits. As a resident of Boston, I'd be more concerned with whether or not Turner was serving the community than I would be about whether he is getting side benefits from the power of his position. This does not excuse illegal behavior, but it's a matter of being realistic. While regulators are required to worry about the illegal activities of our lawmakers, enforcement of the law can be an arbitrary and highly contrived process.
I sit back and wonder if the people of Roxbury are going to fight for Mr. Turner the way some say he has been fighting for them. All the while, one could argue that the fact that they are not fighting for him implies that Mr. Turner is not the impactful public servant he claims to be. Turner's claim that his conviction was a reprisal from his political enemies is certainly plausible, since it's odd to see a long career come to an end over a measly thousand bucks. It'll be interesting to see who comes to his defense.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.