Wikipedia

Dean Corren

Dean Russel Corren (May 16, 1955 – May 2, 2023) was an American politician and scientist who served in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden 7-3 district from 1993 to 2000, as an independent and member of the Progressive Coalition. He unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor of Vermont in 2014. Corren was the third member of the Progressive Party elected to the state legislature.[1]

Dean Corren
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
from the Chittenden 7-3 district
In office
1993–2001
Serving with
Preceded byMulti-member district
Succeeded byMulti-member district
Personal details
Born(1955-05-16)May 16, 1955
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 2, 2023(2023-05-02) (aged 67)
Vermont, U.S.
Political party
Spouses
  • Karen Amirault
  • Cindy Wolkin
Children1
Education

Corren was born in New York City, and educated at Middlebury College and New York University. He was appointed to serve on the Electric Commission in Burlington, Vermont, in 1988, by the Republican and Progressive members of the city council against the wishes of the Democratic members despite Corren being a Democrat.

Corren ran for a seat in the state house in the 1990 election, but was defeated. He was elected to the state house as an independent in the 1992 election and reelected in the 1994 election. He was reelected to the state house in the 1996 and 1998 elections as a member of the Progressive Coalition. Corren ran for lieutenant governor of Vermont in the 2014 election with the nominations of the Democratic and Progressive parties, but was defeated by Republican nominee Phil Scott.

Early life and education

edit

Dean Russel Corren was born on May 16, 1955, in New York City.[2] He was raised in Katonah, New York, and moved to Burlington, Vermont in 1988. Corren graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1977, and later graduated with a master's degree in energy science from New York University.[3][4][5][6]

Corren married Karen Amirault and Cindy Wolkin, and had one son. He was Jewish.[3][6]

Career

edit

Local politics

edit

In 1988, the Democratic member of the city council in Burlington, Vermont, wanted to appoint Richard Frothingham to the Electric Commission, but the Republican and Progressive members of the city council instead appointed Corren, who was also a member of the Democratic Party. Allen Gear, a Republican member of the city council, stated that they thought it did not matter what person was appointed to the commission as long as that person was a member of the Democratic Party. Nancy Chioffi, a Democratic member of the city council who also served as its president, stated that the "Democrats were not asking for much, and they didn't get anything" following Corren's appointment.[7] Corren later became chair of the Electric Commission.[8] He was appointed to serve another three-year term on the council in 1991.[9]

Corren supported Peter Clavelle during the 1993 Burlington mayoral election.[10]

Vermont House of Representatives

edit

Elections

edit

Corren considered running for a seat in the Vermont House of Representatives from the Chittenden 7-3 district in the 1990 election as either an independent or Progressive Coalition candidate. He chose to run as an independent candidate, but was defeated by Democratic nominees Hamilton E. Davis and Alice Cook Bassett while coming ahead of Republican nominee June Trono.[11][3][12] A recount was conducted and maintained Davis and Bassett's victory.[13] During the campaign he was endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition and accused Davis, the chair of the Vermont Hospital Data Council, of using a press conference for political purposes.[14][15]

Corren ran as an independent candidate in the 1992 election and was elected alongside Democratic nominee Sandy Baird and both were reelected in the 1994 election.[16][17][18] He ran with the nomination of the Progressive Coalition in the 1996 election and won reelection alongside David Zuckerman, another member of the Progressive Coalition, and both were reelected in 1998.[19][20] Corren chose to not seek reelection in the 2000 election while Zuckerman was reelected alongside Bob Kiss.[21][22]

Tenure

edit

During Corren's tenure in the state house he served on the Government Operations committee.[23] When he joined the state house Corren was aligned with the Progressive Coalition caucus which included representatives Terry Bouricius and Tom Smith.[24][25] In 1996, he sponsored legislation to impeach Judge Althea Kroger, accusing her of lying under oath and making false accusation against Judge Elizabeth Gretkowski.[26]

Lieutenant gubernatorial campaign

edit

Corren announced on May 7, 2014, that he would run for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont with the Progressive nomination.[27] He qualified for public campaign funds, with $50,000 in the primary and $150,000 in the general election, after raising over $18,000 with contributions below $50 which was more than the $15,000 required.[28] On August 16, Corren launched his campaign at an event hosted by Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen.[29] Corren won the Democratic primary without opposition and the Progressive primary as a write-in candidate.[30][31] The Vermont Democratic State Committee voted thirty-one to four in favor of endorsing Corren on September 20, although the party did not give him access to voter lists.[32] He participated in a debate against Republican nominee Phil Scott and Liberty Union nominee Marina Brown.[33] Scott defeated Corren in the general election.[34] Corren considered running for lieutenant governor or governor in the 2016 election, but chose not to.[35]

Corren's campaign sent out a text message asking for people to vote for him using a list of people that included those who had not opted in to receive the message which was illegal.[36] In 2015, William Sorrell, the Vermont Attorney General, filed a lawsuit against Corren with $72,000 in penalties alleging that he had violated campaign financing laws by asking for the Democratic Party to send an email supporting him to their 19,000 member list.[37] T. J. Donovan succeeded Sorrell as attorney general and dismissed the charges against Corren stating that it would be unfair to continue the prosecution and the chilling effect it had on candidates seeking public campaign financing.[38]

Death

edit

Corren died from a cardiac event on May 2, 2023.[6]

Political positions

edit

Corren voted in favor of legislation to prohibit smoking in public areas.[39] In 1993, the state house voted eighty to fifty-six, with Corren against, in favor of a one percent sales tax increase suggested by Howard Dean.[40] He opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement and attempted to have a majority of the Vermont legislature go on record against the treaty.[41] He supported the creation of a single-payer healthcare.[42] The state house voted seventy-nine to sixty-eight, with Corren in favor, in favor of allowing civil unions for same-sex couples.[43]

Electoral history

edit
Dean Corren electoral history
1990 Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 7-3 District election[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Hamilton E. Davis (incumbent) 958 28.45%
Democratic Alice Cook Bassett 933 27.71%
Independent Dean Corren 924 27.44%
Republican June Trono 537 15.95%
Independent Write-ins 15 0.45%
Total votes 3,367 100.00%
1992 Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 7-3 District election[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dean Corren 2,288 34.65%
Democratic Sandy Baird 1,826 27.65%
Independent Jim Court 1,420 21.51%
Democratic Dan Mallar 1,069 16.19%
Total votes 6,603 100.00%
1994 Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 7-3 District election[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Dean Corren (incumbent) 1,141 25.49%
Democratic Sandy Baird (incumbent) 1,101 24.60%
Progressive Coalition David Zuckerman 1,042 23.28%
Democratic Marcy J. Kaplan 1,017 22.72%
Natural Law Chelsea Clark 94 2.10%
Natural Law Edward S. Harris 81 1.81%
Total votes 4,476 100.00%
1996 Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 7-3 District election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Coalition David Zuckerman 1,995 36.38%
Progressive Coalition Dean Corren (incumbent) 1,988 36.25%
Democratic Scott Baldwin 1,428 26.04%
Independent Write-ins 73 1.33%
Total votes 5,484 100.00%
1998 Vermont House of Representatives Chittenden 7-3 District election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Coalition David Zuckerman (incumbent) 1,021 47.51%
Progressive Coalition Dean Corren (incumbent) 1,010 47.00%
Independent Write-ins 118 5.49%
Total votes 2,149 100.00%
2014 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial Democratic primary[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Dean Corren 6,405 100.00%
Total votes 2,149 100.00%
Blank 15,201
2014 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial Progressive primary[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Dean Corren 6,405 94.35%
Progressive Write-ins 17 5.65%
Total votes 301 100.00%
Blank 77
2014 Vermont lieutenant gubernatorial election[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Phil Scott (incumbent) 118,949 62.16%
Progressive Dean Corren 69,005 36.06%
Liberty Union Marina Brown 3,347 1.75%
Independent Write-ins 60 0.03%
Total votes 191,361 100.00%
Blank 2,383

References

edit
  1. ^ "Progressives: Party adjusts to POllina switch to independent". The Burlington Free Press. July 27, 2008. p. 25. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Dean Corren's Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Burlington independent to run for Vt. House". Rutland Herald. July 16, 1990. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Corren file". The Burlington Free Press. October 22, 1994. p. 25. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "In Profile: Will Corren's principled stands on issues sway voters?". Vermont Digger. September 29, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Progressive champion Dean Corren dies at 67". Vermont Digger. May 4, 2023. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Democrats lose key position". The Burlington Free Press. June 15, 1988. p. 15. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "City considers developers' fee". The Burlington Free Press. January 15, 1990. p. 15. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "City Council confirms 24 appointments". The Burlington Free Press. June 4, 1991. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Clavelle Endorsements". The Burlington Free Press. March 1, 1993. p. 11. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Davis to Seek Burlington House Seat". Rutland Herald. May 10, 1990. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "1990 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  13. ^ "Recounts validate outcomes in 3 Vermont House races". The Burlington Free Press. November 29, 1990. p. 20. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Rainbow Coalition backs Bernard Sanders". Bennington Banner. September 25, 1990. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "News conference was political, candidate says". The Burlington Free Press. September 6, 1990. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Corren to run for House seat". The Burlington Free Press. June 21, 1992. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "1992 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "1994 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "1996 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "1998 State Representative General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Party finds stride in elections". The Burlington Free Press. September 24, 2000. p. 15. Archived from the original on June 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Chittenden 7-3". The Burlington Free Press. November 8, 2000. p. 4. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Committee assignments in Vt. Senate, House". The Burlington Free Press. January 13, 1993. p. 16. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "House Progressives fight to be heard". The Burlington Free Press. March 7, 1993. p. 5. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "3 Progressives At State House Flex Muscles, Fight Exclusion". Rutland Herald. March 7, 1993. p. 25. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Lawmaker sponsors bill to impeach judge". Bennington Banner. January 6, 1996. p. 3. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Former state Rep. Dean Corren to run for Vermont lieutenant governor". Vermont Digger. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  28. ^ "Progressive candidate for Lt. Gov. qualifies for public financing". Vermont Digger. June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  29. ^ "Corren Stresses Write-In Campaign At Kickoff Event". Vermont Public Radio. August 18, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  30. ^ a b "2014 Lieutenant Governor Democratic Primary". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "2014 Lieutenant Governor Progressive Primary". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  32. ^ "Corren Has Democratic Endorsement, But Not All Party Resources". Vermont Public Radio. September 21, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  33. ^ "Lt. Governor's Debate". Vermont Public Radio. October 28, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  34. ^ a b "2014 Lieutenant Governor General Election". Secretary of State of Vermont. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  35. ^ "Dean Corren mulls bid to succeed Scott". Rutland Herald. August 27, 2015. p. A7. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "Texts From Corren's Campaign May Have Violated Federal Law". Vermont Public Radio. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  37. ^ "Dean Corren Violated Campaign Finance Law, AG Sorrell Says". Vermont Public Radio. March 25, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Donovan dismisses campaign finance case against Corren". Vermont Digger. November 21, 2017. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021.
  39. ^ "Roll-Call Vote on Smoking Bill". The Burlington Free Press. March 28, 1993. p. 12. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Roll call". The Burlington Free Press. July 21, 1993. p. 9. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ "Vermonters Sought For NAFTA Fight". Rutland Herald. September 29, 1993. p. 1. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "Support For Single-Payer Plan". The Burlington Free Press. December 4, 1993. p. 16. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "The House Vote". The Burlington Free Press. April 26, 2000. p. 11. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
edit
Party political offices
Preceded by
Cassandra Gekas
 Progressive nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
2014 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Dean_Corren&oldid=1259078977"