David Alan Curson (born November 4, 1948) is an American

union representative A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official. Rank-and-file members of the union hold ...

and former member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

, representing

Michigan's 11th congressional district Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States congressional district northwest of Detroit, comprising portions of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties. Until 1993, the district covered the state's Upper Peninsula an ...

. He is known for having one of the shortest terms in congressional history. Curson defeated

Kerry Bentivolio Kerry Bentivolio (born October 6, 1951) is an American politician and educator who is the former United States Representative for , in office from 2013 to 2015. Bentivolio, a Republican, defeated Democratic nominee Syed Taj, a physician, in th ...

in a

special election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-larges ...

to replace former Representative

Thaddeus McCotter Thaddeus George "Thad" McCotter (born August 22, 1965) is an American politician, radio host, and a member of the Republican Party who was the U.S. representative from from 2003 to 2012. The district at the time consisted of portions of Detroi ...

, who resigned in the summer of 2012, and served less than two months. He is a member of the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

. Curson resides in

Belleville, Michigan Belleville is a city in Wayne County, Michigan, Wayne County in the U.S. state Michigan. The population was 3,991 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. As a western suburb of Metro Detroit, Belleville is southeast of Ann Arbor, Michig ...

. He is a representative for the

United Auto Workers The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers (UAW), is an American labor union that represents workers in the United States (including Puerto Rico ...

Early life, education, and career

Curson was born in

Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...

, to George Curson, a heavy equipment operator for

Washington Township, Lucas County, Ohio Washington Township is one of the eleven townships of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census found 3,055 people in the township. Communities *Alexis Addition is an unincorporated community located at and is completely surrounded b ...

. He is the youngest of six children. After graduating from high school in 1966, Curson followed in the footsteps of his mother, working at the Libby-Owens-Ford Glass Company, and attended the

University of Toledo The University of Toledo (UToledo or UT) is a public research university in Toledo, Ohio. It is the northernmost campus of the University System of Ohio. The university also operates a Health Science campus, which includes the University of T ...

. However, he dropped out without finishing a degree in order to serve in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

. After returning from service, he began work at the

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

Rawsonville Plant in

Ypsilanti, Michigan Ypsilanti (), commonly shortened to Ypsi, is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city's population was 20,648. The city is bounded to the north by Superior Township and on the west, south, and ...

United Auto Workers service

While working at the

Rawsonville Plant, Curson became involved with the UAW and was elected as a representative for the organization. He has been a long-time member of the International Union staff and has served as director of special projects and economic analysis, executive assistant to V.P. Ron Gettelfinger, executive assistant to President Steve Yokich and executive assistant to Secretary Treasurer Dennis Williams. He began negotiating Big Three contracts in 1982 and also testified on behalf of Chrysler and GM at their bankruptcy hearings after President Obama's automotive bailouts.

Political career

Curson was elected in a

to fill the remainder of former Representative

's term in the

112th United States Congress The 112th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. It convened in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 2011, and ended on January 3, 2013, 17 ...

. McCotter resigned in the summer of 2012 after learning that the majority of petition signatures to get him on the ballot in the August primaries were fraudulent. The Democratic nominee for the general election, Syed Taj, was not a candidate in the special election. Curson stated his intention to retire from politics immediately after his six-week term ended and return to private life, which he fulfilled; Curson was succeeded by Republican

in January 2013, whom Curson defeated in the special election.

Political positions

Curson feels that the key to economic success is the creation of jobs. His campaign goals included an increased tax on the rich and additional funding for roads, schools, and energy systems. He also sought legislation that would allow United States employers to safely hire foreign workers more easily and was against the deportation of children brought to the United States by illegal immigrants. He also supported the

Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Presid ...

and

Planned Parenthood The Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. (PPFA), or simply Planned Parenthood, is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. It is a tax-exempt corporation under Internal Reve ...

References

External links