By Guy Page

The family of the late Don Turner Jr., a former Vermont House Republican leader, Milton fire chief and town manager, has issued a public statement criticizing Chittenden North State Senate candidate Irene Wrenner for using Turner’s name and memory in a campaign flier without consulting his family.

The statement follows criticism from the Milton Republican Town Committee, which accused Wrenner of using a secondhand account of Turner’s remarks in a way that could suggest he supported her candidacy.

Wrenner says the statements made by WVMT Morning Drive guest host Stewart Leadbetter, recalling Turner’s admiration for her campaign work ethic, were similar to statements made directly to her by Turner.

Turner, who died in 2024, was a longtime Republican state representative from Milton and served as House minority leader.

In their statement, Turner’s family said they were disappointed that his name appeared in campaign material distributed to voters, including members of his own family who live in the district.

“As a family, we were deeply disappointed to see Don’s name and memory used in a political flier without consideration for the fact that members of his own family live in the district and would be personally affected by its use,” the family said.

The family also questioned the source of the remarks attributed to Turner, noting that they were based on another person’s recollection rather than a direct quotation.

“What concerns us in this situation is that the phrase attributed to Don is not a direct quote, and our family was not consulted about its use,” the statement said.

In a phone call to Chronicle Conversations this week, Wrenner said she hadn’t spoken with the Turner family, but said that Turner himself made similarly complimentary statements directly to her during the 2024 campaign. Wrenner is seeking to regain the Senate seat she lost in 2024. She is running against GOP candidate Ashley Bartley, who was endorsed by Turner in her previous House races, as was 2024 Chittenden North winner Chris Mattos, a Milton Republican who was encouraged to run and then endorsed by Turner.

The family acknowledged that Wrenner may have intended to honor Turner’s public service and work ethic but said the decision caused pain to those closest to him.

“It was deeply upsetting for Don’s immediate family—including his widow, his parents, and his daughter—to receive a political flier in their mailboxes featuring his name and legacy without any prior notice that it would be used or distributed,” the family said.

The statement also questioned why Wrenner had not used the remarks during her 2024 Senate campaign, when Turner was still alive.

“We also find it upsetting that Mrs. Wrenner chose not to use this material during her 2024 Senate election campaign—when Don was still alive—but rather chose to wait until after he passed,” the family said.

The controversy began after Wrenner distributed a campaign mailer containing a radio host’s recollection of remarks Turner reportedly made at a public forum more than two years ago. The Milton Republican Town Committee objected, pointing out that Turner had endorsed Mattos during the 2024 election.

The family emphasized Turner’s long record of public service and his personal motto, “Getting Stuff Done,” which they said reflected his approach to life and government.

“Don was much more than a name or a phrase that could be used in a political campaign,” the statement said. “He was our beloved son, husband, father, family member, and friend.”

The family noted that Turner’s legacy remains visible in Milton, including the town’s Public Works building, which bears his name.

“To our family, the words ‘Getting Stuff Done’ are part of Don’s legacy—not simply a campaign slogan to be repurposed for political gain,” the statement said.

The family concluded by asking Wrenner and other political candidates to consider the effect that using the words and memories of deceased public figures can have on surviving relatives.

“We believe it is possible to recognize and honor someone’s contributions while also respecting the wishes, feelings, and role of the family they left behind,” the statement said.