David Turner to Serve as Next Odessa Mayor
By: Karl Rundgren
Updated: November 6, 2012
ODESSA -- As the votes were tallied, Election Day was a good day for Odessa businessman David Turner.
David Turner was running against Mark E. Ritter for the Odessa mayor's seat, which was being vacated by long-time mayor Larry Melton. Melton first became mayor of Odessa in 2001, and was then re-elected in 2002, 2004, and 2008. Because of that Melton was forced to step down from his position because of Odessa term limits.
Turner runs several Subway sandwich shops in Odessa and said that business experience made him a good fit for Odessa mayor. Turner also serves on a variety of boards and committees including the Odessa College Board of Trustees and the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. He also boasted that he was a life-long Odessan.
Mark Ritter is also a life-long Odessan, but he also presented himself as an Odessa "everyman." He served in the U.S. Navy for years, serving as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He currently is a funeral home assistant at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home in Odessa.
Ritter said that he felt the city of Odessa needed to get away from the "Good Ole Boy" system of mayors, and that he would present a regular persons perspective in City Hall.
David Turner was running against Mark E. Ritter for the Odessa mayor's seat, which was being vacated by long-time mayor Larry Melton. Melton first became mayor of Odessa in 2001, and was then re-elected in 2002, 2004, and 2008. Because of that Melton was forced to step down from his position because of Odessa term limits.
Turner runs several Subway sandwich shops in Odessa and said that business experience made him a good fit for Odessa mayor. Turner also serves on a variety of boards and committees including the Odessa College Board of Trustees and the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. He also boasted that he was a life-long Odessan.
Mark Ritter is also a life-long Odessan, but he also presented himself as an Odessa "everyman." He served in the U.S. Navy for years, serving as part of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. He currently is a funeral home assistant at Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home in Odessa.
Ritter said that he felt the city of Odessa needed to get away from the "Good Ole Boy" system of mayors, and that he would present a regular persons perspective in City Hall.
