Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Danny Curtin

No. 69 Danny Curtin

Danny Curtin, the long-time director of the California Conference of Carpenters, has become a regular on this list over the last several years thanks to his work on the state’s ongoing housing crisis. The carpenters are not always in sync with other labor groups one might think would be natural allies, like the State Building and Construction Trades Council, something that doesn’t seem to concern Curtin one bit. His union has carved out its own unique positions in debates over construction issues like the prevailing wage and California Environmental Quality Act. Curtin and the Carpenters Union have done more than just forge their own political identity. They have become a Capitol force with the power to make or break efforts to address California’s housing crisis. And Curtin is the person who wields the hammer for his union. Prior to leading the carpenters, Curtin was the Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations. In January, he was reappointed to the California Water Commission, where he’s served for more than a decade. Fun fact: his favorite body of water in California is Lake Tahoe.

Updated Aug. 11, 2026