Courtney Allen Curtis

Courtney Allen Curtis
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives from the 73rd district
In office 2012 – Present
Personal details
Born	Ferguson, Missouri, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	None
Children	None
Residence	Ferguson, Missouri
Alma mater	University of Missouri Columbia College (Missouri)
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Christian

Courtney Allen Curtis is an American politician and founder of the non-profit North County Forever. He currently serves in the Missouri House of Representatives representing the 73rd District and serves as the Chair of the Special Standing Committee on Urban Issues.

His district includes many municipalities in St. Louis County, Missouri, including: Ferguson, Missouri, Berkeley, Missouri, Kinloch, Missouri, Woodson Terrace, Missouri, St. Ann, Missouri, Cool Valley, Hazelwood, Missouri, Normandy, Missouri, and Bridgeton ^[1] He was first elected in 2012 at the age of 31, and then re-elected in 2014.

As a native resident of Ferguson, Missouri, Mr. Curtis has been a vocal and vital figure during the Ferguson unrest over the Shooting of Michael Brown. Mr. Curtis’ prior initiatives and legislation were aimed at protecting youth at risk and salvaging communities that were undone by recent economic downturns. Mr. Curtis has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, National Public radio, and Geraldo Rivera to discuss the plight of these communities and his plan to solve their issues.^[2][3]

Early life and career

Early life

At the University of Missouri, Mr. Curtis was a two term President of the Collegiate 100, a sub division of the St. Louis Chapter of the 100 Black Men, aimed at growing the next crop of black male leaders.^[4] During his tenure as a vocal student leader, Mr. Curtis led initiatives aimed at social injustices and helping minority students establish a presence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. However, he never graduated from the University of Missouri. He also attended Columbia College (Missouri). Courtney became a public official after a rash of gang violence infiltrated his neighborhood, weeks after the birth of his niece. Curtis’ campaign ignited a grass roots movement aimed at foraging out violence while helping youth who had become disenfranchised by years of neglect.

Career

State Representative Courtney Allen Curtis is a Democrat State Representative, who represents St. Louis North County (District 73) which includes Ferguson in the Missouri House of Representatives.^[5] He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2012 and re-elected in August 2014. Soon after winning his first house seat, Curtis rose through the ranks becoming the President of the Freshman Democratic Caucus and Chair of the Freshman Bipartisan Issues committee ultimately leading him to being named Associated Students of the University of Missouri Legislator of the Year in 2013 because of his passion, and leadership shown for ensuring and improving access to a quality higher education in Missouri.

In April 2014, Rep. Curtis established the not for profit organization North County Forever.^[6] North County Forever is a non profit organization committed to community restoration and improvement starting with the heart of North County, the 73rd District. North County Forever (NCF) will focus on improving the Health and Wellness, Educational Development opportunities for the citizens while also mentoring the next generation of leaders, and restoring Community Pride as a community development entity using a Total Community Improvement approach. The organization’s objective is to end poverty and strife in North County and build a sustainable community fueled by the commitment and will of its residents. His agenda is multifaceted and takes the approach of partnering with non profits to strengthen them, while serving as the coordinator of area improvement efforts to strengthen the region as a collective, rather than individually.

In March 2016, Representative Curtis introduced House Bill 2831 in the Missouri legislature which aimed to make the St. Louis Cardinals the official major league baseball team of the state. This bill elicited both criticism and praise, as Kansas City Royals fans passionately defended their team, while others criticized Representative Curtis for not focusing on important state issues. Despite the backlash, this bill arguably achieved the goals Representative Curtis was aiming for: It showed that he can engage the constituents of Missouri in a lighthearted and appealing way and it gained him widespread attention as a representative during a time where he is passing monumental legislation for his district. As of March 24, 2016 the bill is not scheduled for a hearing and the results of a Twitter poll administered by Representative Curtis himself resulted in 95% of people (out of the 1,000 that voted) preferring the Kansas City Royals as the official major league baseball team of Missouri.

On April 11, 2016, the Special Committee of Urban Issues, chaired by Representative Curtis, met to discuss diversity efforts the University of Missouri System has and has not taken in response to the events on the University of Missouri-Columbia's campus in the fall of 2015.^[7] Curtis questioned Pamela Quigg Henrickson, UM System Board of Curators chair; UM System Interim President Mike Middleton; Brian Millner, chief of staff for Interim MU Chancellor Hank Foley; and Chuck Henson, MU's interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity in the hearing. Representative Curtis grilled the representatives from the UM System, insisting that efforts to eliminate discrimination on campus was not a priority for them. Representative Curtis is critical of Middleton's new interim position, as Middleton's past efforts to rectify growing racial inequality were meager. Curtis urged the UM System and the MU campus representatives that there is a lot more work to be done, and that now is the time to do it.

Right to Work

Representative Curtis has focused on issues of inequality that most politicians shy away from especially in the Democratic party. Mr. Curtis has fought the unions for more inclusive policies for minorities. This fight has highlighted the lack of minority inclusion in construction contracts for Missouri projects. During a Missouri house debate Mr. Curtis went head-to-head with those who opposed the right-to-work. One opponent characterized his attempts as “trying to impact the whole system.” The bill passed the house with few Democrats willing to risk their seats. Saint Louis law requires all contracts over $25,000 or more to maintain or participate in a Department of Labor-approved apprentice program. Union contractors are often the only ones that meet that this requirement leaving minority contractors out. Even under the threat of union opposition in the next primary to unseat him, Mr. Curtis, cared more for the need to include minorities in construction then re-election. "With all of the pending projects, things aren’t getting better for minorities in terms of opportunities or access to opportunities," said Curtis. "Now is the time to have the fight. Either we’re for equality or we’re not. But if we’re for equality, then we need to hold everybody accountable to people who claim the banner of Democratic Party.” ^[8][9][10] The Unions refused to meet with minority leaders until legislation was presented to allow workers the freedom to keep what they earn. This report has been at the center of his frustration with unions as he is pushing for minority inclusion while the unions fight back to keep the status quo.

Mr. Curtis provoked a physical fight with fellow Missouri lawmaker, Rep. Michael Butler, D-St. Louis, after a heated exchange of words over Curtis' anti-union proposal at a reception for labor unions on January 19, 2016.^[11]

Ferguson Unrest

As state representative for Ferguson Mr. Curtis has been vocal about the need for change in the wake of the unrest. Appearing on MSNBC to talk about the unrest in Ferguson.^[12] Mr. Curtis has called for change in Ferguson starting with the mayor and court/police leaders stepping down. The unrest in Ferguson came as a result of systemic problems that lead many minorities to feel discriminated against. In a call to fix Ferguson Mr. Curtis looked to put an end to judges and prosecutors working in multiple municipalities at the same time.^[13]

Committee assignments

As an incoming Freshman Courtney Curtis served on:

Democrat Freshman Committee President

Freshman bipartisan issue committee

Ways and Means

Agri-Business

International Trade

2015-2016

At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Representative Curtis was appointed as Chairman of:

• Special Committee on Urban Issues, Chair

The only Democrat to chair a committee in this legislative session.

He also served on the following committees:

• Special Committee on Urban Issues
• Joint Committee on Education
• Appropriations - Health, Mental Health, and Social Services
• Ways and Means - Government Oversight and Accountability
• Government Oversight and Accountability

^[14]

2014 Bills

2014 Sponsored Bills

2014 Co-Sponsored Bills

2015 Sponsored Bills

References

• http://ballotpedia.org/Courtney_Curtis
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/31/courtney-allen-curtis_n_4704200.html
• http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/democrats-big-tent-open-right-work-legislation

External links

• Missouri House Page