PUTNAM COUNTY- The Putnam County executive race has turned into a three-candidate contest with the county’s Conservative party endorsing rightwing insurgent Tatiana Ibrahim Brahimi.
The resident of Kent received the unanimous support of the Conservatives at a weekend meeting which committee secretary Theresa Votano described as “neither hurried nor made lightly. After careful deliberation, the committee concluded that Tatiana, a registered Conservative who affirmatively sought our endorsement, best represents the principles and values of our party. We further believe that she can, and will, win this election.”
Votano went on: “Putnam County is not New York City. Tatiana will stand proudly and unapologetically for the Conservative values of this county and will unite the voters who share them. The committee has spoken unanimously, and its decision is final.”
Four years ago, Ibrahim Brahimi made news when attacking members of the Carmel Board of Education viewed more than 100,000 times on social media alleging that Carmel schools were teaching Critical Race Theory. She also attacked an educator in Yorktown.
Her message caught fire and she appeared on several occasions on right-wing news organizations throughout the New York metropolitan area.
The Conservatives initially named committee chair William Spain as their candidate, but he withdrew late last week after being nominated for a State Supreme Court judgeship in Brooklyn.
Attempts to reach Ibrahim Brahimi were unsuccessful; however, on her Facebook page, the candidate wrote: “I am incredibly honored to receive the unanimous endorsement of the Putnam County Conservative Party for County Executive. For too long, real conservative Republican voters have been told to settle for the same old politics and the same old choices. Not anymore.
This November, Putnam County has a REAL conservative choice — and a movement that puts taxpayers, families, public safety, and our values first,” she said.
The selection of Ibrahim Brahimi serves as a blow to County Executive Kevin Byrne who ran without opposition four years ago on both the GOP and Conservative lines. He was also endorsed by the third party during his three elections in Albany where he served as an assembly member.
Byrne expressed anger over the conservatives’ decision: “From my very first time seeking public office, I made it clear that I would never be a rubber stamp for any political party or party structure. Some candidates can be bought. I am not for sale. I will never trade my principles, my record, or my commitment to Putnam County for political power. I will not ‘bend the knee’ in exchange for a party’s blessing—especially when that party has become so blatantly compromised by backroom politics and self-serving deals.”
Byrne also attacked Ibrahim Brahimi describing her as “wholly unqualified to serve as County Executive. Her erratic conduct and rhetoric are well documented and should concern anyone who expects serious, stable and responsible leadership.”
MidHudsonNews also contacted Brett Yarris, the Democratic candidate for Putnam’s top elected office.
His response: “The announcement from the Putnam County Conservative Party is a clear rebuke of the current direction of county government and makes the choice facing Putnam County even clearer. We have an incumbent who has lost the confidence of a significant part of the coalition that elected him, and a Conservative candidate focused on extremist ideological politics that have little to do with the job of County Executive. Putnam County needs a leader who can govern effectively, serve every constituent and work constructively with our neighbors.”
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