Brion Curran Explained

Brion Curran
State House:Minnesota
District:36B
Predecessor:Ami Wazlawik
Term Start:January 3, 2023
Constituency:36B (2023-present)
Birth Date:27 May 1985
Residence:Vadnais Heights, Minnesota
Education:Century College (AAS)
Concordia University, St. Paul (BS)
Party:Democratic (DFL)

Brion Curran (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.[1] [2]

Early life, education and career

Curran 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.

Curran has worked in disability services for 20 years. 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.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Curran 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.

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. Curran is the vice chair of the Queer Caucus, a group of LGBTQ+ legislators that formed during the 2023 legislative session.[3] [4]

Political positions

Curran 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.[5] [6]

A former deputy sheriff, Curran left the force in 2018 due to PTSD and has advocated for more mental health support funding for officers.[7] [8] 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.[9] 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.

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.[10]

Personal life

Curran lives in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. They identify as queer.[11] According to public court records, Curran and their wife, Brandi, divorced in 2023.[12]

Legal issues

On October 9, 2023, Curran was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in Chisago County, Minnesota.[13] 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.[14]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Curran, Brion - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present . 2023-02-26 . www.lrl.mn.gov.
  2. Web site: Rep. Brion Curran (36B) - Minnesota House of Representatives . 2023-02-26 . www.house.mn.gov.
  3. Web site: Faircloth . Ryan . January 29, 2023 . Minnesota’s LGBTQ lawmakers form Queer Caucus . 2023-08-06 . Star Tribune.
  4. Web site: Stroozas . Sam . 2023-01-17 . 'Shaking things up': Minnesota’s LGBTQ lawmakers see new strength at Capitol . 2023-08-06 . MPR News . en.
  5. Web site: Ferguson . Dana . 2023-02-20 . Minnesota House votes to ban LGBTQ youth conversion therapy . 2023-08-06 . MPR News . en.
  6. Web site: Deng . Grace . February 21, 2023 . Minnesota House passes bill to ban ‘conversion therapy’ for minors . 2023-08-06 . Minnesota Reformer . en-US.
  7. Web site: Winter . Deena . 2023-03-09 . Bill aimed at stemming tide of PTSD police retirements prompts heated debate about police . 2023-08-06 . Minnesota Reformer . en-US.
  8. Web site: Orenstein . Walker . 2022-11-03 . Police association endorsements among most coveted, controversial in Minnesota . 2023-08-06 . MinnPost . en-US.
  9. Web site: Ibrahim . Mohamed . 2023-03-16 . Amir Locke's dad gives emotional testimony in statewide no-knock ban hearing . 2023-08-06 . MinnPost . en-US.
  10. Web site: Stanley . Greg . March 30, 2023 . Deal between homeowners, municipalities aims to keep White Bear Lake from drying up . 2023-08-06 . Star Tribune.
  11. Web site: Spears . Baylor . 2022-08-01 . A record number of out LGBT candidates are running for Minnesota's Legislature . 2023-08-06 . Minnesota Reformer . en-US.
  12. In Re the Marriage of: Brandi Curran and Brion Curran. 62-FA-23-1146 . Ramsey County District Court . 24 July 2023 .
  13. Web site: Olson . Rochelle . Freshman DFL legislator arrested on suspicion of DWI . Star Tribune . Star Tribune . 9 October 2023 . 9 October 2023.
  14. News: Fischer . Samantha . January 25, 2024 . MN State Rep. Brion Curran sentenced after drunk driving guilty plea . January 25, 2024 . KARE-TV.