{{short description|American politician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Bryan Brinyark | image = Bryan Brinyark.png | caption = | state_house = Alabama | district = 16th | term_start = January 10, 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Kyle South | successor = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1968}} | birth_place = Tuscaloosa, Alabama, U.S. | party = Republican | alma_mater = University of Alabama (BA, JD) | occupation = Attorney, municipal court judge, farmer }}
'''Bryan Brinyark''' (born 1968)<ref name="Reflector">{{Cite web|url=https://alabamareflector.com/2024/01/08/republican-brinyark-democrat-underwood-vie-for-tuscaloosa-area-state-house-seat/|title=Republican Brinyark, Democrat Underwood vie for Tuscaloosa-area state House Seat|last=Rocha|first=Alander|work=Alabama Reflector|date=January 8, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://alabamareflector.com/2024/01/08/republican-brinyark-democrat-underwood-vie-for-tuscaloosa-area-state-house-seat/|url-status=live}}</ref> is an American attorney, judge, and politician who serves in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing its 16th district since 2024. A member of the Republican Party, his district includes all of Fayette County, as well as parts of Tuscaloosa and Jefferson in the western part of the state.<ref name="ALT">{{Cite web|url=https://altoday.com/archives/54854-bryan-brinyark-wins-alabama-house-district-16-special-runoff-election|title=Bryan Brinyark wins Alabama House District 16 Special runoff election|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=Alabama Today|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://altoday.com/archives/54854-bryan-brinyark-wins-alabama-house-district-16-special-runoff-election|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Education and early career== A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama,<ref name="ADN">{{Cite web|url=https://aldailynews.com/new-member-profile-rep-bryan-brinyark/|title=New member profile: Rep. Bryan Brinyark|last=Willis|first=Alexander|work=Alabama Daily News|date=January 15, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://aldailynews.com/new-member-profile-rep-bryan-brinyark/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brinyark graduated from Central High School<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/bca-backs-brinyark-in-district-16-runoff/|title=BCA backs Brinyark in District 16 runoff|last=Everett|first=Grayson|work=Yellowhammer News|date=October 13, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://yellowhammernews.com/bca-backs-brinyark-in-district-16-runoff/|url-status=live}}</ref> and went on to attend the University of Alabama, where he attained a B.A. in advertising in 1990, before receiving a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1993.<ref name="Reflector" />
Entering law practice, Brinyark specialized in business, estate and divorce law.<ref name="ADN" /> Brinyark served as a municipal judge in Brent and Woodstock before becoming the municipal judge of Centreville in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2023/10/16/bca-endorses-tuscaloosas-bryan-brinyark-in-upcoming-special-runoff/|title=BCA endorses Tuscaloosa's Bryan Brinyark in upcoming special runoff|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=October 16, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174625/https://www.alreporter.com/2023/10/16/bca-endorses-tuscaloosas-bryan-brinyark-in-upcoming-special-runoff/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brinyark also served as a judge for the city of Tuscaloosa, where he presided over cases such as a solicitation charge against Tuscaloosa city councilor James Cunningham, of which Cunningham was found guilty.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2005/07/22/font-colorff0000breaking-news-font-cunningham-found-guilty-of-solicitation-files-appeal/27892486007/|title=BREAKING NEWS: Cunningham found guilty of solicitation, files appeal|last=Morton|first=Jason|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=July 22, 2005|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174624/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2005/07/22/font-colorff0000breaking-news-font-cunningham-found-guilty-of-solicitation-files-appeal/27892486007/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2014, Brinyark founded the law firm Brinyark & Frederick, which focuses on divorce law, in Northport.<ref name="ADN" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wvua23.com/brinyark-wins-republican-primary-runoff/|title=Brinyark wins House District 16 Republican primary runoff|work=WVUA-23|date=October 24, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024}}</ref> Brinyark also chaired the Board of Tuscaloosa Shoot Sports Inc. and was the baseball president of Northside Park in Tuscaloosa.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/10/alabama-special-election-results-house-district-16-senate-district-9-brinyark-kitchens-win/72161139007/|title=Alabama special election results: Brinyark, Kitchens prevail in House, Senate contests|last=Hagan|first=Victor|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114061945/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/10/alabama-special-election-results-house-district-16-senate-district-9-brinyark-kitchens-win/72161139007/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Alabama House of Representatives== Following the resignation of Kyle South in 2023, the seat for the Alabama House of Representatives's 16th district became open, and a special election was held. A first-time candidate for the Republican Party,<ref name="Reflector" /> Brinyark qualified to run for the seat in July 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tuscaloosathread.com/northport-attorney-bryan-brinyark-seeks-vacant-house-district-16-seat/|title=Northport attorney Bryan Brinyark seeks vacant House District 16 seat|last=Dethrage|first=Stephen|work=Tuscaloosa Thread|date=July 13, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://tuscaloosathread.com/northport-attorney-bryan-brinyark-seeks-vacant-house-district-16-seat/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/07/31/six-republicans-one-democrat-plan-to-run-for-house-district-16-seat/70476093007/|title=Six Republicans, one Democrat qualify for House District 16 race|last=Hollie|first=Jasmine|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=July 31, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/07/31/six-republicans-one-democrat-plan-to-run-for-house-district-16-seat/70476093007/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brinyark's main opponent was Fayette County commissioner Brad Cox, against whom he advanced to a runoff election in the Republican primary. Brinyark received the endorsement of the Business Council of Alabama, while Cox had been endorsed by the Alabama Education Association.<ref name="ALT" /> Cox won the first round of voting in September 2023 by 15 votes,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aldailynews.com/house-district-16-55-special-election-candidates-head-to-runoff/|title=House District 16, 55 special election candidates head to runoff|last=Willis|first=Alexander|work=Alabama Daily News|date=September 27, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://aldailynews.com/house-district-16-55-special-election-candidates-head-to-runoff/|url-status=live}}</ref> but Brinyark defeated Cox with 52% of the runoff vote in October 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/10/25/brinyark-wins-alabama-house-district-16-special-election-runoff/71312525007/|title=Brinyark wins Alabama House District 16 special election runoff|last=Hollie|first=Jasmine|work=The Tuscaloosa News|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174624/https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2023/10/25/brinyark-wins-alabama-house-district-16-special-election-runoff/71312525007/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aldailynews.com/brinyark-kitchens-win-respective-special-elections/|title=Brinyark, Kitchens win respective special elections|last=Willis|first=Alexander|work=Alabama Daily News|date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115180128/https://aldailynews.com/brinyark-kitchens-win-respective-special-elections/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Brinyark advanced to the general election in January 2024 against Democratic nominee John Underwood, another member of the Fayette County commission.<ref name="Reflector" /> Prior to the general election, Brinyark also received the endorsement of the Alabama Farmers Federation.<ref name="AFF">{{Cite web|url=https://www.alreporter.com/2024/01/09/alabama-farmers-federation-endorses-bryan-brinyark-for-house-district-16/|title=Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Bryan Brinyark for House District 16|work=Alabama Political Reporter|date=January 9, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174624/https://www.alreporter.com/2024/01/09/alabama-farmers-federation-endorses-bryan-brinyark-for-house-district-16/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brinyark won the special election in a landslide with 83% of the vote to Underwood's 17%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yellowhammernews.com/brinyark-secures-landslide-victory-in-alabama-house-special-election/|title=Brinyark secures landslide victory in Alabama House special election|last=Moseley|first=Brandon|work=Yellowhammer News|date=January 10, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174623/https://yellowhammernews.com/brinyark-secures-landslide-victory-in-alabama-house-special-election/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Following his election, Brinyark said his priorities would include the expansion of Highway 43,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alabamareflector.com/2024/01/09/bryan-brinyark-wins-house-district-16-special-election/|title=Bryan Brinyark wins House District 16 special election|last=Rocha|first=Alander|work=Alabama Reflector|date=January 9, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 10, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110233747/https://alabamareflector.com/2024/01/09/bryan-brinyark-wins-house-district-16-special-election/|url-status=live}}</ref> among other infrastructure projects.<ref name="ADN" /> Brinyark is also an advocate of school choice, and said he would support programs such as school vouchers.<ref name="ADN" />
==Personal life== Brinyark resides in Windham Springs, Alabama,<ref name="Reflector" /> where he has run a small farm since the 2000s,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://1819news.com/news/item/bryan-brinyark-wins-alabama-state-house-district-16-special-election|title=Bryan Brinyark wins State House District 16 special election: 'I am ready to get to work!'|last=Cox|first=Bradley|work=1819 News|date=January 9, 2024|access-date=January 15, 2024|archive-date=January 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115174938/https://1819news.com/news/item/bryan-brinyark-wins-alabama-state-house-district-16-special-election|url-status=live}}</ref> and is the father of five adult children. He attends the Northport Church of Christ.<ref name="AFF" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Alabama House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brinyark, Bryan}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Alabama House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Alabama Legislature Category:Politicians from Tuscaloosa, Alabama Category:University of Alabama alumni Category:University of Alabama School of Law alumni