Kevin Byrne (New York politician)

Kevin Byrne
Member of the New York Assembly from the 94th District
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded by Steve Katz
Personal details
Born 1984
Carmel, NY
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Briana Messina
Residence Mahopac, New York
Alma mater University of Scranton (B.A.)
Marist College (M.P.A.)
Website Official website

Kevin Byrne is the Assembly member for the 94th District of the New York State Assembly. He is a registered Republican who successfully ran with the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party endorsements. The district includes portions of Putnam and Westchester counties in the Hudson Valley.

Byrne serves as the ranking member on the Aging Committee. He also serves on the Health, Labor, Banks, Governmental Operations and Transportation Committees.[1]

Life and career

Byrne was born and raised in the Hudson Valley and attended Carmel High School before enrolling at the University of Scranton. As a high school student, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout. At Scranton, Byrne participated in the Army ROTC program, but his aspiration to military service was jeopardized by a previous injury he sustained as a competitive student wrestler. Hoping to qualify for the Army physical, Byrne had a second surgery to remove the metal rod that had been used to repair his broken spine - to no avail. Despite that, Byrne did complete the academic portion of the ROTC program coupled with an internship with then Congresswoman Sue Kelly.[2]

Following his graduation from the University of Scranton in 2007, Byrne returned to the Hudson Valley and eventually served as a member of the Putnam Valley Planning Board and as a Firefighter/EMT with the Kent Volunteer Fire Department where he served three terms as its president. He later served as Deputy District Director to Congresswoman Nan Hayworth and then as a Regional Director for the American Heart Association while finishing his M.P.A. concentrating in Healthcare Administration at Marist College.[3]

2016 New York Assembly campaign

In 2016, Assemblyman Steve Katz announced that he would not seek another term. Byrne was one of five Republicans that announced they would seek the nomination to replace Katz.[4] At the local Republican Convention, Byrne received 14,562 weighted votes (76%) over Somers Town Councilman Bill Faulkner's 3,681 (19%) and Carmel Councilwoman Suzanne McDonough's 974 (5%).[5] Councilwoman McDonough immediately pledged she would continue a primary campaign.[6]

The very next evening, Byrne suffered serious leg injuries after his vehicle was struck head on at high speed in an automobile accident by a vehicle travelling the wrong way in Byrne's lane.[7] Byrne continued his campaign throughout his recovery and would later be victorious during the Republican primary. Despite being outspent, Byrne beat McDonough 60% to 40%, one of the largest Republican primary victories for an open seat within the Hudson Valley in recent memory.[8]

He would later defeat Democrat Brian Higbie in the 2016 general election with a record setting 62% victory to take the seat.[9]

References

  1. ↑ "New York State Assembly Member Directory". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  2. ↑ "Meet Kevin - Kevin Byrne for NY". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  3. ↑ "Kevin Byrne for NY District 94". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  4. ↑ "Five Republicans Vie for Assembly Nomination". TAPinto. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  5. ↑ "Byrne Wins GOP Nomination in Landslide". Yorktown-Somers, NY Patch. 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  6. ↑ "Kevin Byrne, Assembly Candidate, Injured In Crash". The Putnam County Courier. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  7. ↑ "Kevin Byrne, Assembly Candidate, Injured In Crash". The Putnam County Courier. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  8. ↑ "Byrne Wins GOP Nomination in Landslide". Yorktown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  9. ↑ "Kevin Byrne for 94th Assembly seat". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
Political offices
Preceded by
Steve Katz		 New York Assembly, 94th District
2017–present		 Incumbent
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