Brion Curran
Brion Curran | |
|---|---|
 Curran in 2023 | |
| Member of theMinnesota House of Representatives from the 36B district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ami Wazlawik |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 27, 1985 |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Residence | Vadnais Heights, Minnesota |
| Education | Century College(AAS) Concordia University, St. Paul(BS) |
| Occupation | |
| Website | Government websiteCampaign website |
Brion Curran(/ˈbriːɒnˈkʌrən/BREE-onKURR-ən;[1]born May 27, 1985) is an American politician serving in theMinnesota House of Representativessince 2023. A member of theMinnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party(DFL), Curran represents District 36B in the northTwin Citiesmetropolitan area, which includes the cities ofWhite Bear LakeandVadnais Heightsand parts ofRamseyandWashingtonCounties.[2][3]
Early life, education and career
[edit]Curran graduated fromCentennial High SchoolinCircle Pines, Minnesota.They earned an associate of applied sciences degree in law enforcement fromCentury Collegeand a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice fromConcordia University, St. Paul.[2]
Curran has worked in disability services for 20 years.[2]They joined theWhite Bear LakePolice Department, serving as a volunteer police sergeant and as a 911 dispatcher from 2015 to 2018. Curran served as a deputy in theChisago CountySheriff's Office in 2018, quitting after responding to a traumatic incident and developing PTSD.[2][4]
Minnesota House of Representatives
[edit]Curran was elected to theMinnesota House of Representativesin2022.They first ran after two-termDFLincumbentAmi Wazlawikannounced she would not seek reelection.[2]
Curran serves as vice chair of the Sustainable Infrastructure Policy Committee, and sits on the Human Services Policy, Judiciary Finance and Civil Law, and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committees.[2]Curran is the vice chair of the Queer Caucus, a group of LGBTQ+ legislators that formed during the 2023 legislative session.[5][6]
Political positions
[edit]Curran supported legislation to ban the use ofconversion therapyfor minors and vulnerable adults in Minnesota, which passed the House in 2023. They have called the practice "abusive brainwashing", and spoke on the House floor about their experience with it, arguing that it does more harm than good.[7][8]
A former deputy sheriff, Curran left the force in 2018 due to PTSD and has advocated for more mental health support funding for officers.[4][9]They authored a bill that would prohibit courts from issuing or approvingno-knock search warrants,saying it puts citizens and law enforcement at risk and violates theFourth Amendmentprotection from unlawful searches and seizures.[10]During the bill's hearing, the father ofAmir Locke,who was killed during a no-knock warrant search in which Amir was not named, testified in support of the proposal.[10]
Curran authored legislation creating a working group led by theMetropolitan Councilthat would work with municipalities in the Twin Cities East Metro struggling with managing drinking water services aroundWhite Bear Lake.[11]
Electoral history
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Brion Curran | 11,337 | 53.48 | |
| Republican | Heidi Gunderson | 9,833 | 46.38 | |
| Write-in | 29 | 0.14 | ||
| Total votes | 21,199 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL)hold | ||||
Personal life
[edit]Curran lives inVadnais Heights, Minnesota.[2]They identify as queer.[5][13]According to public court records, Curran and their wife, Brandi, divorced in 2023.[14]
Legal issues
[edit]On October 9, 2023, Curran was arrested on suspicion ofdriving while intoxicated(DWI) inChisago County, Minnesota.[15]They pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree DWI in exchange for having other charges dismissed and served a two-day jail sentence in early 2024.[16]
References
[edit]- ^Informational interview with Rep.-elect Brion Curran (DFL-Vadnais Heights).MNHouseInfo. Dec 12, 2022. Event occurs at 00:11.RetrievedAugust 20,2024– viaYouTube.
- ^abcdefg"Curran, Brion - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present".lrl.mn.gov.Retrieved2023-02-26.
- ^"Rep. Brion Curran (36B) - Minnesota House of Representatives".house.mn.gov.Retrieved2023-02-26.
- ^abWinter, Deena (2023-03-09)."Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police".Minnesota Reformer.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^abFaircloth, Ryan (January 29, 2023)."Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers form Queer Caucus".Star Tribune.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^Stroozas, Sam (2023-01-17)."'Shaking things up': Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers see new strength at Capitol ".MPR News.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^Ferguson, Dana (2023-02-20)."Minnesota House votes to ban LGBTQ youth conversion therapy".MPR News.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^Deng, Grace (February 21, 2023)."Minnesota House passes bill to ban 'conversion therapy' for minors".Minnesota Reformer.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^Orenstein, Walker (2022-11-03)."Police association endorsements among most coveted, controversial in Minnesota".MinnPost.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^abIbrahim, Mohamed (2023-03-16)."Amir Locke's dad gives emotional testimony in statewide no-knock ban hearing".MinnPost.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^Stanley, Greg (March 30, 2023)."Deal between homeowners, municipalities aims to keep White Bear Lake from drying up".Star Tribune.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^"2022 Results for State Representative District 36B".Minnesota Secretary of State.RetrievedFebruary 25,2023.
- ^Spears, Baylor (2022-08-01)."A record number of out LGBT candidates are running for Minnesota's Legislature".Minnesota Reformer.Retrieved2023-08-06.
- ^In Re the Marriage of: Brandi Curran and Brion Curran,62-FA-23-1146 (Ramsey County District Court 24 July 2023).
- ^Olson, Rochelle (9 October 2023)."Freshman DFL legislator arrested on suspicion of DWI".Star Tribune.Star Tribune.Retrieved9 October2023.
- ^Fischer, Samantha (January 25, 2024)."MN State Rep. Brion Curran sentenced after drunk driving guilty plea".KARE-TV.RetrievedJanuary 25,2024.