Kevin Byrne (New York politician)

Kevin Byrne is the Assembly member for the 94th District of the New York State Assembly. He is a registered Republican who first successfully ran with the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Reform Party lines.

Kevin Byrne
Member of the New York Assembly from the 94th District
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Preceded bySteve Katz
Personal details
Born1984
Carmel, NY
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Briana Messina
ResidenceMahopac, New York
Alma materUniversity of Scranton (B.A.)
Marist College (M.P.A.)
WebsiteOfficial website

The district includes portions of Putnam and Westchester counties in the Hudson Valley.

Byrne is the ranking member on the Assembly’s Health Committee and chairperson of the Assembly Minority Conference Program Committee (2020-Present), making him the youngest member of his conference’s leadership team. He also serves on the Governmental Operations, Insurance, Labor, and Transportation Committees.[1]

In addition, Byrne also serves as the New York state chair of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).[2]

Previously, Byrne served as co-chair of the Assembly Minority Conference Task Force on Critical Infrastructure and Transportation (2018-2019), as the ranking member of the Assembly’s Aging Committee (2017-2018), and as vice chair of minority steering (2019).[3]

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 was unable to qualify for the Army physical because of a high school wrestling injury. Despite that, Byrne did complete the academic portion of the ROTC program coupled with an internship with then Congresswoman Sue Kelly.[4]

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 the department’s 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.[5] Byrne won his first bid seeking elected office in 2016 when he was elected as the Assemblyman for New York’s 94th Assembly District.

Assemblyman Byrne lives in Mahopac with his wife Briana, a Physician Assistant, and their rescued Treeing Walker Coonhound, Tracker.

Legislative Record & Accomplishments

Assemblyman Byrne first ran for office seeking to bring a new generation of leadership to the Assembly, and has routinely noted that New York cannot tax and spend its way out of every challenge it faces. His record as a fiscal conservative is well recognized by his belief that tax relief, not more big government spending, is the best way to provide the economic boost the state needs.[6]

Byrne cites that the greatest obstacle to these challenges remains the state's awful reputation for public corruption, which Byrne refers to as a "corruption tax." Byrne credits the corruption tax as part of the reason for more than one million people leaving the state from 2010 - 2017.[7]

During his first term, Byrne voted against every state imposed tax increase proposed in the Assembly. That is one of the primary reasons Byrne was recognized in 2017 as one of five state legislators with the highest rating by the Conservative Party of New York State.[8]

In addition to Byrne's fiscal positions, Byrne is recognized as a strong advocate for many other public health and safety issues such as winning the war on addiction, protecting our veterans and first responders, and improving our state's aging infrastructure.[9][10]

During his first term, Byrne introduced and passed ten bills in the Assembly, 8 of which passed the Senate and were signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo, more than nearly any other freshmen member (regardless of party affiliation) during that time.[11][12]

Some examples of Byrne’s legislation over the years include:

  • Honoring the actions of a local Yorktown hero by designating a portion of state roadway the Major Clayton Carpenter Memorial Highway.[13]
  • Designating various local lakes as inland waterways to improve eligibility for state grants[14][15][16][17]
  • Empowering local governments to hire and retain more skilled workers in the towns of Somers and Putnam Valley[18][19]
  • Granting forgiveness for ministerial errors made by a local school district, saving local taxpayers millions from dollars in potential penalties and lost building aid (initially vetoed by Gov. Cuomo[20] but identical bill language was later included and passed in 2020-2021 FY budget which Byrne opposed for unrelated reasons[21][22])
  • Assisting a new international multi-million dollar distillery project by permitting them to manufacture and sell in New York State[23][24]
  • Protecting a historical cemetery from development in Yorktown[25]
  • Establishing new parkland to offset commercial space along the Route 6 corridor in Yorktown[26]

Byrne frequently credits his legislative successes to finding support from colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

During his time in the Assembly, Byrne also developed a unique ability to work with colleagues from both political parties to deliver results. Some of the legislation he helped pass as a co-sponsor include:

  • Expanded cancer coverage for volunteer firefighters[27]
  • Strengthened the Clean Indoor Air Act (Byrne was the only GOP Assembly member to co-sponsor this legislation) [28]
  • Prohibited the practice of conversion "therapy" on minors (Byrne was the only GOP state legislator to co-sponsor this legislation)[29]
  • Increased access to Automated External Defibrillators[30]
  • Better benefits for combat veterans[31]
  • Increased access to Epinephrine Auto-injectors[32]

Additionally, by partnering with colleagues in both conferences, Byrne has effectively advocated for policy changes such as:

  • Permanent property tax cap[33]
  • Constitutional amendment to strip pensions from corrupt politicians[34]
  • Legalized ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyftt across the state[35]
  • Greater accountability of utility companies and state agencies[36][37]
  • Deportation of the last known Nazi living in New York[38]
  • Timely implementation of positive train control[39][40]
  • Elimination of a pension double-dipping loophole exclusive for state lawmakers[41]
  • More timely paving of state roadways and other infrastructure projects[42]
  • Restoration and protection of funding for veteran peer to peer services[43][44]

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.[45] 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%).[46] Councilwoman McDonough immediately pledged she would continue a primary campaign.[47]

A day after winning his party’s endorsement, Byrne was seriously injured in a Brewster auto accident, breaking his right knee and suffering other injuries when another car, traveling at high speed, crossed into his lane, he said, and collided with him head-on.[48][49] 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.[50]

He would later defeat Democrat Brian Higbie in the 2016 general election with a record setting 62% victory to take the seat.[51]

2018 New York Assembly campaign

In 2018, Byrne was challenged by Vedat Gashi, a Yorktown resident who recently relocated from NYC. [52][53] Throughout the campaign, Byrne focused on his ideas to make the state a more affordable place to live for all New Yorkers.

A key highlight of the campaign was during a Putnam League of Women Voters Forum when Byrne exposed Gashi’s repeated attempts to purposefully misinform the public about Byrne’s voting record.[54] In interviews leading up to the debate, Gashi made claims that Byrne had voted against legislation that would prevent violent domestic abusers from obtaining firearms when in fact Byrne had voted in favor of such legislation twice (A5025), commonly referred to as the “Domestic Violence Escalation Protection Act.”[55]

During the debate, Byrne produced a hard copy of his voting record and publicly hand delivered it to Gashi. Looking at Byrne’s printed voting record, Gashi again asserted Byrne voted no on the legislation in question. To which Byrne then marked the printed out copy of the voting record and pointed to where it said “Y”, indicating a yes vote in favor of the legislation. [56]

Throughout the campaign, Byrne's effectiveness was highlighted by his record of passing more legislation than nearly any other freshmen lawmaker in the state, regardless of party affiliation, during his first term (of the 20+ freshmen legislators only 3 freshmen Democrats passed more).[57][58] This fact drew ire from Gashi, whose platform hinged on his belief that he could deliver more for the district by being a member of the majority Democratic conference. Byrne’s record and statements have been fact checked and confirmed by multiple sources, including candidate interviews with Yorktown News, Examiner News, and the NYS Assembly website.[59][60][61]

Gashi’s campaign outspent Byrne’s campaign by more than four times, spending more than $250,000 on the election with much of the donations coming directly from New York City and outside the Assembly District. In contrast, Byrne only spent approximately $60,000 with most of his donations coming from individual contributors who reside in the area.[62][63]

The same election year, the state Senate flipped to Democratic control. This was in part due to the loss of a Republican held Senate seat that largely overlapped with the 94th Assembly District. In a year that proved challenging for many Republicans across the state, Byrne easily won his bid for re-election by a strong double digit margin.[64]

References
  1. "New York State Assembly Member Directory". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  2. "Rep. Kevin Byrne". www.alec.org. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
  3. "Task Force Aims To Address Massive Infrastructure". 2018.
  4. "Meet Kevin - Kevin Byrne for NY". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  5. "Kevin Byrne for NY District 94". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  6. "2017 Assembly Ratings". CPNYS. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  7. "Assemblyman Byrne Responds". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  8. "2017 Assembly Ratings". CPNYS. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  9. "State Assembly Candidate: Kevin Byrne". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  10. "FINAL Infrastructure Task Force Report.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  11. "State Assembly Candidate: Kevin Byrne". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  12. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  13. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  14. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  15. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  16. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
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  18. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  19. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  20. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  21. "A9506B ELFA budget bill". April 2020.
  22. "The NYS Budget: Op-Ed from Assemblyman Byrne". www.theexaminernews.com. Retrieved 2020-04-10.
  23. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  24. Dunne, Allison. "NYS Bill Enables Distillery To Move Forward In Putnam County". www.wamc.org. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  25. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
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  29. "New York A00576 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly". LegiScan. Retrieved 2019-11-21.
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  33. "Permanent Property Tax Cap Passed in Senate, Blocked in Assembly". Byrne4NY. 2019-02-04. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  34. "New York State Assembly | Bill Search and Legislative Information". nyassembly.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  35. "Murray Passes Bill To Block Sex Offenders From Becoming Ridesharing Drivers". NewsLI.com. 2017-06-27. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  36. "UTILITIES GET SLAPPED BY STATE INVESTIGATION INTO 2018 STORM RESPONSES BUT NO MENTION OF THE CREWS IN PUERTO RICO". Byrne4NY. 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  37. Buchwald, Latimer, and Exec. Committee. "United Westchester Storm Response Report" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-09-30.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  38. Yekusiel (2017-06-14). "Majority Leader Morelle, Hikind, Simanowitz And 85 Colleagues Implore Sessions To Deport Nazi". Yeshiva World News. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  39. "Assemblymen Push to Get Positive Train Control Enacted". www.theexaminernews.com. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  40. Todd (2020-04-14). "Letter to the Editor: Positive Train Control finally completed in Hudson region". Mid Hudson News. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  41. Dunne, Allison. "Two NYS Lawmakers Call On Commission To Close Double-Dipping Loophole". www.wamc.org. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  42. "FINAL Infrastructure Task Force Report.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  43. "ASSEMBLYMAN BYRNE JOINS SENATORS MURPHY & SERINO TO ANNOUNCE $185,000 SUPPORTING VETERAN'S PEER-TO-PEER PROGRAM". Byrne4NY. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  44. "Byrne Calls for Funding of Joseph P. Dwyer Vet 2 Vet Program". Byrne4NY. 2019-02-28. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  45. "Five Republicans Vie for Assembly Nomination". TAPinto. Retrieved 2017-02-22.
  46. "Byrne Wins GOP Nomination in Landslide". Yorktown-Somers, NY Patch. 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  47. "Kevin Byrne, Assembly Candidate, Injured In Crash". The Putnam County Courier. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  48. "Kevin Byrne, Assembly Candidate, Injured In Crash". The Putnam County Courier. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
  49. "Byrne Endorsed for Assembly; Faulkner Unsure of Primary". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  50. "Byrne Wins GOP Nomination in Landslide". Yorktown, NY Patch. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  51. "Kevin Byrne for 94th Assembly seat". Retrieved 2017-01-03.
  52. "Byrne and Gashi Vie for State Assembly Seat". TAPinto. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
  53. "Home Page - New York State Board of Elections". www.elections.ny.gov. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  54. LWV-PC General Elections Candidate Forum 10/22/2018, retrieved 2019-09-28
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  56. LWV-PC General Elections Candidate Forum 10/22/2018, 2018-10-26, retrieved 2018-11-13
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  60. "Setting the Record Straight". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
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  62. "GASHI, VEDAT - FollowTheMoney.org". www.followthemoney.org. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  63. "GASHI, VEDAT - FollowTheMoney.org". www.followthemoney.org. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
  64. "Byrne Defeats Gashi in 94th Assembly District". TAPinto. Retrieved 2019-09-30.
Political offices
Preceded by
Steve Katz		 New York Assembly, 94th District
2017–present		 Incumbent
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