Mike Turpen
Encyclopedia
Michael C. "Mike" Turpen (born November 10, 1949) is an American
lawyer
and politician
from Oklahoma
. A member of the Democratic Party
, Turpen served as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
and as the Attorney General of Oklahoma
from 1983 to 1987. After leaving the Attorney General's Office, Turpen entered private practice.
Turpen was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
in 2009 to serve as member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
. Turpen's nine year term will expire in May, 2018.
, where he attended public school at Tulsa Public Schools
. After high school, Turpen attended and graduated from the University of Tulsa
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in history in 1972. In 1975 he received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law
. Following law school, Turpen moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma
, where he joined the Muskogee Police Department as the Police Legal Advisor. He then joined the Muskogee County District Attorney's Office where he would serve as the Chief Prosecutor and then as the First Assistant District Attorney. In 1976, Turpen was elected, as a Democrat, as the District Attorney for Muskogee County. He served in that position until 1983.
In 1982, Turpen became the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Oklahoma
. Turpen defeated his Republican opponent and entered office in 1983. He served in that position until 1987 when he declined to seek reelection in order to run for Governor of Oklahoma
in 1986. Though initially considered the front runner in the race to seek the Democratic Party's nomination, Turpen ultimately lost the nomination to darkhorse
candidate David Walters
. Walters, in turn, was defeated by former Republican
Governor Henry Bellmon
.
Since leaving public service in 1987, Turpen has been a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis in Oklahoma City. In 2009, Turpen was appointed by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
to serve as member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
. Turpen's nine year term will expire in May, 2018.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
. A member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Turpen served as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Oklahoma Democratic Party
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
and as the Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
from 1983 to 1987. After leaving the Attorney General's Office, Turpen entered private practice.
Turpen was appointed by Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
in 2009 to serve as member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is the agency of the government of Oklahoma that serves as the governing body of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, which is the largest provider of higher education in the state of Oklahoma...
. Turpen's nine year term will expire in May, 2018.
Biography
Mike Turpen was born in Tulsa, OklahomaTulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, where he attended public school at Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa Public Schools
Tulsa Public Schools is an independent school district serving the Tulsa, Oklahoma area in Northeastern Oklahoma. It is the 2nd largest school district in Oklahoma. As of 2010 the district serves approximately 41,224 students, up slightly from 41,200 students from Kindergarten through Twelfth grade...
. After high school, Turpen attended and graduated from the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in history in 1972. In 1975 he received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law is a private law school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Dean of the College of Law is Janet Koven Levit, a nationally recognized scholar in the field of comparative and international law. Levit was named Interim Dean on October 10, 2007, and permanently appointed as Dean...
. Following law school, Turpen moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
, where he joined the Muskogee Police Department as the Police Legal Advisor. He then joined the Muskogee County District Attorney's Office where he would serve as the Chief Prosecutor and then as the First Assistant District Attorney. In 1976, Turpen was elected, as a Democrat, as the District Attorney for Muskogee County. He served in that position until 1983.
In 1982, Turpen became the Democratic nominee for Attorney General of Oklahoma
Attorney General of Oklahoma
The Attorney General of Oklahoma is the State Attorney General for the state of Oklahoma. The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer of the State of Oklahoma. The Attorney General is responsible for providing legal advise to the various agencies and departments of...
. Turpen defeated his Republican opponent and entered office in 1983. He served in that position until 1987 when he declined to seek reelection in order to run for Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
in 1986. Though initially considered the front runner in the race to seek the Democratic Party's nomination, Turpen ultimately lost the nomination to darkhorse
Darkhorse
Darkhorse is Los Angeles based band Crazy Town's second album, released on November 12, 2002.The album peaked at No. 120 on the Billboard 200 and No. 164 in the UK. It was released without any touring or promoting, Crazy Town simply floated their second album into stores...
candidate David Walters
David Walters
David Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
. Walters, in turn, was defeated by former Republican
Oklahoma Republican Party
The Oklahoma Republican Party is a political party affiliated with the United States Republican Party . Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics.-Voter base:...
Governor Henry Bellmon
Henry Bellmon
Henry Louis "Harry" Bellmon was an American Republican politician from Oklahoma. He was a member of the Oklahoma Legislature, the 18th and 23rd Governor of Oklahoma , and a two-term United States Senator.-Service in World War II:Bellmon was born in Tonkawa, Oklahoma and graduated from Billings...
.
Since leaving public service in 1987, Turpen has been a partner in the law firm of Riggs, Abney, Neal, Turpen, Orbison and Lewis in Oklahoma City. In 2009, Turpen was appointed by Democratic Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
to serve as member of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education is the agency of the government of Oklahoma that serves as the governing body of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, which is the largest provider of higher education in the state of Oklahoma...
. Turpen's nine year term will expire in May, 2018.