Josh Byrnes (politician)

Josh Byrnes (born April 18, 1974) is a Republican party member and was in of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2010 until 2016. In November 2020, Iowa governor Kim Reynolds appointed him to the Iowa Utilities Board until April 30, 2025.

Josh Byrnes
84th General Assembly portrait (2011)
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 10, 2011
Preceded by	Mark Kuhn
Constituency	14th district (2011–2013) 51st district (2013–present)
Personal details
Born	(1974-04-18) April 18, 1974 (age 51) Oelwein, Iowa, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Colleen
Children	3 children
Residence	Osage, Iowa
Alma mater	Luther College, Winona State University
Profession	Iowa Utilities Board
Website	legis.iowa.gov/...

Early life and education

Byrnes was born in Oelwein, Iowa. He grew up in Riceville, Iowa, where he graduated from Riceville Community High School in 1992. He went on to graduate from Luther College, earned a master's degree from Winona State University.^[1]

Career

Byrnes was a high school teacher for eight and a half years and also served as an administrator at the community college level. Byrnes taught or coached in the districts of Denison, Osage, Riceville, Mason City, St. Ansgar, and Clear Lake.^[1]

In 2010, Byrnes, member of the Republican party was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. As of January 2013, Byrnes served on several committees in the Iowa House – the Education, Natural Resources, and Ways and Means committees, as well as the Education Appropriations budget subcommittee. He served as the Chair of the Transportation committee.^{[citation needed]} He was defeated in 2016.

In November 2020, Iowa governor Kim Reynolds appointed him to the Iowa Utilities Board until April 30, 2025.^[2]

Personal life

Byrnes resides on an acreage in Mitchell County with his wife, Colleen, daughters, Alexandra and Scarlett, and son, Nolan. Colleen is a family nurse practitioner at the Mitchell County Regional Hospital and has received numerous prestigious awards for her work. The family enjoys their acreage where they have a small cow calf herd, raise gourds and play ball on their diamond.

Service

According to the IUB website he was General Manager of Osage Municipal Utilities, a former CUSB Bank director and served on the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Board of Directors, American Public Power Associations DEED Board, and T&D World Executive Advisory Board.^[2]

Electoral history

*incumbent

Election	Political result		Candidate		Party	Votes	%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2010  [3] District 14 Turnout: 1,984		Republican		Josh Byrnes	Republican	1,297	65.37%
				Craig Clark	Republican	386	19.46%
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2010  [4] District 14 Turnout: 11,283		Republican gain from Democratic		Josh Byrnes	Republican	6,696	59.35%
				Kurt Meyer	Democratic	4,281	37.94%
Iowa House of Representatives primary elections, 2012  [5] District 51		Republican		Josh Byrnes*	Republican	unopposed
Iowa House of Representatives general elections, 2012  [6] District 51 Turnout: 15,779		Republican (newly redistricted)		Josh Byrnes*	Republican	9,714	61.56%
				Eric Hungerford	Democratic	5,324	33.74%