Bradley Byrne | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama's 1st district |
|
Assumed office December 17, 2013 |
|
Preceded by | Jo Bonner |
Member of the Alabama Senate from the 32nd district |
|
In office November 2002 – January 2007 |
|
Preceded by | Albert Lipscomb |
Succeeded by | Trip Pittman |
Personal details | |
Born |
Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
February 16, 1955
Political party |
Democratic (?-1998) Republican (1998-present) |
Spouse(s) | Rebecca Byrne |
Children | 4 |
Residence | Fairhope, Alabama |
Alma mater |
Duke University (B.A.) University of Alabama (J.D.) |
Profession | Attorney |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Bradley Roberts Byrne (born February 16, 1955) is a business attorney and Republican congressman for Alabama's 1st congressional district. He served as chancellor of the Alabama Community College System from 2007 until his resignation in 2009 to run for the 2010 Republican nomination for Governor of Alabama. He was also a member of the Alabama State Senate from 2003 to 2007. He holds a degree from Duke University, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and he also attended the University of Alabama. In December 2013, he won a special election to represent Alabama's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Byrne's first run for elective office was in 1994 was a success when he ran for the Alabama State Board of Education as a Democrat. During his term on the State Board of Education, Byrne supported a science curriculum that was opposed by many religious leaders in Alabama. He later voted with the Board to support a compromise that said, "Explanations of the origin of life and major groups of plants and animals, including humans, shall be treated as theory and not as fact. When attempting to apply scientific knowledge to world problems, no social agenda shall be promoted." In 1996 Byrne voted with the majority of Board members to reject $18 million in federal education funds because it was feared the money would allow greater federal control of schools. The vote was seen as a nod to the growing conservative influence in his south Alabama district. However Byrne later changed his mind and convinced the Board to allow the money.
In 1997 Byrne left the Democratic party and became a Republican.