Eric V. Turner was named President of the Council on Government Ethics Laws (COGEL) at its annual conference in Boston
on December 7, 2005. COGEL is the preeminent organization of government ethics administrators in the United States, Canada,
Mexico, and includes hundreds of leaders in the fields of ethics, elections, compaign financing, lobbying and freedom of information.
Turner is the first African-American president of COGEL in its 27-year history.
Turner is Managing Director and Associate General Counsel of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission -- the
oldest and most respected commission of its type in the United States. He is known internationally as a leading expert in
government transparency, privacy and electronic information issues. He has traveled widely as a government information lawyer
both within the United States and abroad, and has consulted frequently with leaders from numerous countries such as Canada,
China, Mexico, and South America.
Turner serves on the board of directors of numerous prestigious charitable and professional local organizations, including
the Boy Scouts of America, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government. He is a Past
President of A Better Chance Program of Glastonbury (CT). Recently, he was elected a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut
Bar Foundation, a society of lawyers, judges and teachers of law who through their accomplishments and service represent the
best of the legal profession.
In speaking of Mr. Turner, Mitchell Pearlman, former Executive Director of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission,
said "Eric combines the rare qualities of a consummate professional with the compassion and dedication to serve his community,
his state, his country and all of humankind. He takes all of these things seriously, but never forgets who he is or where
he's come from. It's been a high honor to call Eric my friend." Former COGEL President Jeffrey Garfield stated "Turner earned
the presidency of COGEL the old-fashioned way -- by hard work and dedication to the ethical principles for which COGEL stands
as a model. I'm certain that Eric will bring his many skills and talents to making his presidency one of the most successful
in the organization's history."
Turner resides in Hartford, Connecticut with his wife Jennifer Smith Turner, a successful businesswoman, civic leader,
poet and writer.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: L. Diane Gill, Executive Director, Council on Governmental Ethics Law (Phone: 904/693-0094
or director@cogel.org)
