Career
Byrnes received his undergraduate education at Luther College and has a master"s degree from Winona State University. He was a high school teacher and community college instructor before entering politics. As of January 2013, Byrnes serves 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 serves as the Chair of the Transportation committee.
Byrnes was first elected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2010. 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, and is currently completing his doctoral work at Iowa State University.
Byrnes was a high school teacher for eight and a half years and also served as an administrator at the community college level
Byrnes has taught or coached in the districts of Denison, Osage, Riceville, Mason City, Saint Ansgar, and Clear Lake. Colleen is a family nurse practitioner at the Mitchell County Regional Hospital. The family enjoys their acreage where they have a small cow calf herd, raise gourds and play ball on their diamond.
*incumbent.
