Brion Curran (/ˈbriːɒn ˈkʌrən/ BREE-on KURR-ən;[1] born May 27, 1985) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Curran represents District 36B in the north Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights and parts of Ramsey and Washington Counties.[2][3]
Brion Curran | |
|---|---|
 Curran in 2023 | |
| Member of the Minnesota 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 website Campaign website |
Early life, education and career
editCurran graduated from Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minnesota. They earned an associate of applied sciences degree in law enforcement from Century College and a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from Concordia University, St. Paul.[2]
Curran has worked in disability services for 20 years.[2] They joined the White Bear Lake Police Department, serving as a volunteer police sergeant and as a 911 dispatcher from 2015 to 2018. Curran served as a deputy in the Chisago County Sheriff's Office in 2018, quitting after responding to a traumatic incident and developing PTSD.[2][4]
Minnesota House of Representatives
editCurran was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. They first ran after two-term DFL incumbent Ami Wazlawik announced 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
editCurran supported legislation to ban the use of conversion therapy for 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 approving no-knock search warrants, saying it puts citizens and law enforcement at risk and violates the Fourth Amendment protection from unlawful searches and seizures.[10] During the bill's hearing, the father of Amir 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 the Metropolitan Council that would work with municipalities in the Twin Cities East Metro struggling with managing drinking water services around White 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 | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Brion Curran (incumbent) | 1,852 | 62.59 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | T.J. Malaskee | 1,107 | 37.41 | |
| Total votes | 2,959 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Patty Bradway | 12,152 | 48.29 | |
| Democratic (DFL) | Brion Curran (incumbent) | 12,977 | 51.57 | |
| Write-in | 37 | 0.15 | ||
| Total votes | 25,166 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life
editCurran lives in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota.[2] They identify as queer[5][15] and nonbinary.[16] According to public court records, Curran and their wife, Brandi, divorced in 2023.[17]
Legal issues
editOn October 9, 2023, Curran was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Chisago County, Minnesota.[18] 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.[19]
References
edit- ^ Informational interview with Rep.-elect Brion Curran (DFL-Vadnais Heights). MNHouseInfo. Dec 12, 2022. Event occurs at 00:11. Retrieved August 20, 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Curran, Brion - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Rep. Brion Curran (36B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ a b Winter, Deena (2023-03-09). "Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ a b Faircloth, Ryan (January 29, 2023). "Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers form Queer Caucus". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Stroozas, Sam (2023-01-17). "'Shaking things up': Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers see new strength at Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Ferguson, Dana (2023-02-20). "Minnesota House votes to ban LGBTQ youth conversion therapy". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Deng, Grace (February 21, 2023). "Minnesota House passes bill to ban 'conversion therapy' for minors". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Orenstein, Walker (2022-11-03). "Police association endorsements among most coveted, controversial in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ a b Ibrahim, Mohamed (2023-03-16). "Amir Locke's dad gives emotional testimony in statewide no-knock ban hearing". MinnPost. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Stanley, Greg (March 30, 2023). "Deal between homeowners, municipalities aims to keep White Bear Lake from drying up". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 36B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "2024 State Primary Results for All State Representative Races". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "2024 Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Spears, Baylor (2022-08-01). "A record number of out LGBT candidates are running for Minnesota's Legislature". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
- ^ Owen, Greg (June 13, 2024). "Rep. Brion Curran explains how the key to legislative success is empathy". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Fischer, Samantha (January 25, 2024). "MN State Rep. Brion Curran sentenced after drunk driving guilty plea". KARE-TV. Retrieved January 25, 2024.