Meet Your County Executive Candidates
By Holly Crocco
The Putnam County Press/Times hosted a debate Sept. 30 featuring the three candidates running for Putnam County executive. Below are wrap-ups of each candidate’s viewpoints. To watch the debate, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/putnampress and click through the five parts to the video. You do not need to have an account to view the video. If you do not have a computer or internet at home, you may visit your local library for access. The election is Nov. 3. Polling and other information is available at https://boe.putnamcountyny.gov.
TATIANA BRAHIMI
Conservative Tatiana Brahimi is running for county executive to bring common-sense solutions and accountability to Putnam government.
“I’m standing before you today not as a career politician, but as a mother, wife, and proud resident of Kent who believes our community deserves a bold, unapologetic voice in government,” she said.
Brahimi said that lowering the 4 percent sales tax will encourage people to do more shopping in Putnam.
“What that does is it gives Putnam County residents the opportunity to shop more and invest more into our county,” she said, noting that, instead, people go to Connecticut or Dutchess County to buy big-ticket items. “That’s something we need to stop doing. Our local businesses work extremely hard. They are part of our community. They are what make our community grow… Give Putnam County residents the opportunity to shop here and support our small businesses.”
Further, Brahimi said small business should be prioritized over corporate enterprises, since the latter bring more traffic and crime, and cause more wear and tear on infrastructure.
“I would never support large, large corporations coming into Putnam County, as a Conservative,” she said. “It will not benefit us any way.”
The candidate said that having $163 million in the county’s fund balance is not something to brag about, seeing as spending has increased along with the reserves.
“It doesn’t take much to realize that if you overspend, you’re going to be in a big mess like we are now in our county,” she said.
Brahimi said she would return the unassigned fund balance back to the taxpayers. “So I would declare a tax holiday for surplus,” she said. “I would use the fund balance for property tax relief and I would give it all back to our taxpayers. There’s no reason why government should have so much money stashed away. That’s over-taxation.”
In addition, the surplus can be used to improve EMS infrastructure, said Brahimi.
“I’m not here to raise taxes, I’m here to make sure they become lower and you get money back, and we can make this happen because of all the hoarding that’s been happening,” she said. “We cannot allow this money to continue to sit there. We need to put it to use, and this is a good use of our money, because it benefits the safety of Putnam County and our neighbors.”
Brahimi does not support the creation of a crisis center in Putnam, saying it can increase crime.
“I have spoken to many residents – I was one of them – concerned over what will happen if you bring this into the community,” she said. “I would support more of an office center that would only serve Putnam County residents.”
Brahimi is fully committed to working alongside Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
“I roll out the red carpet for ICE. I welcome them to Putnam County. I will stand by their side, hold their hand, and give them everything they desire and need to make sure that every illegal in Putnam County is deported,” she said. “If you are here illegally, that is a crime within itself. You must go. And I will stand with ICE and I will stand with law enforcement and ensure they receive all necessary funding – without increasing our taxes. Remember, we have a lot of money stashed away…
“We are a Rule of Law county,” continued Brahimi. “We are American citizens who get up every day and work hard… We’re not going to continue to support people who refuse to do the right thing and follow our laws. We need to ensure that the people of Putnam County, our American children – legal American children – come first. Our schools are flooded with illegals, our towns are flooded with illegals, and enough is enough. We are paying for it, and that will not continue to happen with me.”
The candidate said that if spending and taxes were truly being reduced, she wouldn’t be running for election.
“I’m here because Putnam County deserves an option to bring back true Conservative values,” she said. “This county deserves that – to know their hard-earned tax dollars are being protected.”
Further, she promised a more efficient and honest government if she is county executive. “Because we in the government work for you, not the other way around,” she said.
KEVIN BYRNE
Republican County Executive Kevin Byrne is completing his first four-year term in the county’s top seat, having served six years on the State Assembly prior.
“I’ve been proud to serve Putnam County through nearly 10 years of elected service, but before that, I worked as a crew chief on an ambulance for three different (first responder) agencies in combined service,” he said.
During his time in the Assembly, Byrne supported making the state-mandated property tax cap permanent. And after 10 years of consecutive tax hikes during the prior county administration, he put a stop to the increases once taking office in Putnam.
“I have done what many thought to believe was impossible,” he said. “I was told you couldn’t cut property taxes, yet we did by $2.5 million over three years. I was told that you couldn’t cut sales tax, and yet we gave targeted relief by eliminating tax on clothes and shoes under $110 in stores and online. And we did it while reducing our debt, honoring our contracts, providing a more affordable, accountable government that serves us all.”
Byrne said significant relief has been provided to consumers through a reduction in sales tax, saving more than $7.5 million over three years due to a growing online marketplace.
However, he said that cutting the sales tax too deeply would only reduce revenue, without guaranteeing that people will buy more or buy local. “It would be foolish to do a drastic cut to the sales tax rate, which would force the county to rely on sky-high property taxes in the year ahead,” he said.
While some criticize the $163 million the county has in reserves, he said the county has a healthy fund balance, and that dramatically reducing it will lead to a downgraded credit rating.
“You don’t want to spend from the fund balance so much that you deplete your reserves and force a hole to be formed,” said Byrne. “What you can do is spend it responsibly, provide tax relief, provide for future tax cuts, which we have done… and we’re able to do it while paying down debt.”
Additionally, part of the unassigned fund balance goes to capital projects instead of having to borrow at a time when interest rates are through the roof, he said.
When it comes to the idea of developing a community college, Byrne said it’s significantly less expensive for the county to pay the $4 million in chargebacks to support those seeking a higher education in Westchester or Dutchess, than to build a new facility. “And I don’t think it makes sense when we have great reputations and partnerships with SUNY Dutchess and SUNY Westchester,” he said.
“Building a new community college would be a tremendous cost,” continued Byrne. “It would absolutely increase your property taxes and, by the way, if you do that and someone wants to go to Dutchess Community College or Westchester Community College… the County of Putnam is still going to get charged back to pay for those services.”
The county executive balked at criticism over operations at the Bureau of Emergency Services. “We are doing more – getting new radios, new towers – to increase interoperability,” he said. “We have given more radios to first responders, fire, EMS, and police, and we have more plans to embrace and support our first responders.”
When it comes to bringing a crisis center to Putnam, which Byrne proposed, he said American Rescue Plan Act funding was not forfeited when the facility was continuously rejected by towns, but rather repurposed and offset by the fund balance.
“So we saved that money,” he said. “That money was not lost.”
In addition, Byrne said the county has partnerships with the Philipstown Hub, the Mental Health Association of Putnam, and other agencies that provide mental health services. “It doesn’t always need to be funded by government and funded directly by taxpayers,” he said. “We can rely on great partners.”
Regarding immigration enforcement, Byrne said he will continue to advocate for Putnam to be a rule-of-law county, and not a sanctuary county.
“I am 100 percent in support of sharing information with law enforcement partners, including state and federal law enforcement, which includes Immigrations & Customs Enforcement,” he said. “I will 100 percent stand up for the rule of law.”
Byrne said there is a stark contrast of experience between himself and his challengers.
“How many politicians told you they were going to cut taxes, and how many actually did?” he asked. “I’ve consistently cut taxes after people said you could not do it. I’ve cut debt when people said you can’t do it.”
BRETT YARRIS
Democrat Brett Yarris is a special educator, high school coach, entrepreneur, and former business owner who said Putnam remains one of the most unaffordable counties to live in here in New York State – with young people leaving at an alarming rate because it’s too expensive and there are not enough opportunities.
The candidate, who made his first run for elected office last year when he ran for county legislator, vowed to cut taxes and invest in economic engines.
Yarris said he plans to “dramatically expand” on the sales-tax-sharing agreement he advocated for as a member of the public in 2025. “It didn’t go nearly far enough,” he said. “So we’ll be making sure the towns and villages get the help they need so they can cut the red tape needed to help the county thrive.”
A self-proclaimed Liberty Democrat because he wants to strengthen the free market, the candidate said the current administration’s $1 million property tax levy cut in 2026 didn’t amount to real savings for taxpayers.
“If I have to give my government $1, I expect that $1 back, and then some,” said Yarris. “Right now, when I look at my property taxes, I’ve given the government close to $1,000 in the past year, and all I’ve gotten back is $25 on those property taxes.”
One way to provide property tax relief is by taking advantage of the $163 million in the county’s fund balance, and investing some of that money back into the people who live here, he said. For example, Yarris has championed the creation of a community college or new trade school in Putnam County.
“These things act as economic engines,” he said. “We can both provide tax relief and invest in our future. Counties in New York that have a community college see about $8 to $10 back into the pockets of taxpayers and the local economies for every $1 invested.”
Rather, the county is currently spending about $4.1 million a year in chargebacks for residents who go to Westchester or Dutchess Community College.
“What good is a finically strong government if its people are financially struggling?” he asked. “Forty percent, or 14,000 families here in Putnam County, are working full time but living paycheck to paycheck and can’t afford the basics.”
Protecting farming and agriculture is a core tenant of Yarris’ campaign. “One thing we haven’t done is invest in our agribusinesses,” he said.
Yarris said he was appointed by the Republican-dominated Legislature to the Soil & Water Conservation District Board to reform the “mismanagement” of agricultural protection after one farmer sued the county last year, stating a judge ruled, “the Legislature made a bad decision based on misinformation from this administration.”
He also said mismanagement of the Bureau of Emergency Services has been one of the “greatest sources of disfunction” in county government, with great turnover of personnel. “This has left our firefighters at a disadvantage, especially with radio dysfunction,” said Yarris. “Imagine what they can do with better management.”
The candidate said he supports the creation of a crisis center in Putnam, and was dismayed that the county seems to have lost that opportunity, due to what he called inaction and indecision of the current administration.
“The previous administration (prior to Byrne) was able to secure $2.1 million in ARPA (American Recover Plan Act) funding for this – free money from the federal government to get this done – at a time when we sit here today in the midst of a mental health crisis,” he said. “We are among of the worst in the Hudson Valley region for counties with adults and young people who report severe mental health crises.”
Yarris said the county needs to pick locations that make sense for such a facility, noting that residents aren’t against the concept, but they want it in a more appropriate location.
“There are two very different visions of what Putnam County is and what Putnam County can be,” he said, noting that the current administration seems to think government is operating just fine. “But I understand a different reality. Putnam County remains the second-most unaffordable county in New York State. What has been done before is not enough.
“You, the taxpayer, have already paid to do the big things here in Putnam County. It is time you have a leader that puts you’re money to work for you and makes sure that our young people and seniors can live here in dignity.”
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