CARMEL – What a difference four years make. In 2022, then-Assemblyman Kevin Byrne was elected as Putnam County Executive running unopposed. Today, he is facing a formidable challenge from Brett Yarris, a special education teacher, who is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines as well as from Tatiana Brahimi, an activist who has railed at school board meetings against critical race theory, undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ books in schools, and who has been endorsed by the Conservative Party.
The late David Bruen, elected in 1978, was Putnam County’s last Democratic County executive.
In addition to the hotly contested 17th District Congressional race pitting Republican Congressman Mike Lawler against Democrat Cait Conley, Putnam’s 72,000 eligible voters will cast ballots for governor, attorney general and comptroller as well as for candidates in the State Senate and Assembly.
Locally, County Clerk Michael Bartolotti is running unopposed while three candidates are seeking two coroner positions: Dr. Michael Newsheiwat, John Bourges and Michael Strauss.
Three seats are up for grabs on the Putnam Legislature: District No.2—Democrat Maia Gilleo and Republican Christian Russo.
District No.3—Kathy Kahng (Democrat) and Joseph Cunningham (Republican)
District No. 8—Gwen Burke (Democrat) and Tanner McCracken (Republican)
Voters will elect town supervisors in Carmel, Kent, Philipstown, Putnam Valley and Southeast, and village trustees in Cold Spring and Brewster.
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