There's a lesson about ethics somewhere in the recent Statehouse saga involving Indiana Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero.
But it doesn't seem that Turner has learned the message.
Turner, whose District 32 includes a small portion of northwestern Madison County, had been the No. 2 Republican in the House. Behind the scenes, however, he worked against a moratorium that could have hurt his family's nursing home business.
He was investigated by the House Ethics Committee and cleared. But in August, House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) booted Turner from the GOP leadership team. Turner clearly had a conflict, Bosma acknowledged — as would most Hoosiers.
Bosma also noted that the committee's review "revealed significant gaps" in ethics rules. Bosma said he would introduce a comprehensive ethics bill to address the gaps.
Just for Bosma to address in public the Turner saga may have been enough for others to begin to rebuff the Republican.
This past week, Turner issued a troubling press release. He would keep his name on the Nov. 4 ballot, where he is in a race against Democrat Bob Ashley. If elected, Turner would then resign his House seat.
Ethics took a back seat to politics. The move — if Turner is re-elected — allows Republicans to choose a replacement.
Turner does have a job lined up, working with EQUIP that trains Christian leaders. One doesn't want to presuppose his mission, but certainly ethics will fit into such training.
Turner's rise over 24 years in the Statehouse and his sudden fall due to closed-door negotiations is certainly a textbook lesson in adhering to a set of moral principles for elected officials.
Turner may have missed the message, but those still in the Statehouse should take careful notes.