Odell Sworn in as Putnam County Executive
Surrounded by her family, local officials and community members, MaryEllen Odell was sworn in as Putnam’s new county executive on the steps of the historic courthouse by former governor George Pataki this past Friday. The transition from victorious candidate to elected official took just three days, as voters selected Odell to serve as Putnam’s new county executive during last Tuesday’s election.
It’s the first time in nearly 20 years that residents have witnessed a newly-elected county executive, as Bob Bondi served from January 1991 to December 2011 and former state senator Vincent Leibell never saw the likes of office due to corruption charges. According the Putnam County Board of Elections, Odell defeated her challenger and Democratic nominee Alan Schneider, a financial advisor and account, with 62 percent of the vote.
“It took two campaigns, a hurricane, a Nor’easter in October and an earthquake to win one election,” Odell said. “I’m so proud and honored to stand here today as your county executive in the place that I’ve called my home my entire life.”
Odell’s election marks Putnam’s fifth county executive, as well as the first time in its history that a woman has been elected to the position.
“[Odell] is one of but five women who are county executives among the 62 counties in New York and [she is] joining a line of distinguished and valiant women who started the women’s suffrage movement in this state in Seneca Falls in the mid-19th century,” U.S. Rep. Nan Hayworth said. “This was a victory for the people of Putnam County.”
Despite the atmosphere of controversy and scandal that encompassed Putnam after Leibell stepped down as its county executive-elect, Odell and other leaders thanked Paul Eldridge for his time and service in helping the county get back on its feet.
“I’m equally as proud to have the opportunity to continue to work with my dear friend and colleague Mr. Paul Eldridge,” Odell said. “The board of elections reported that there were 36 write-ins and I would’ve bet that each and every one of them were for Paul Eldridge.”
Eldridge served as the county’s personnel director until he was appointed to the position just 10 months ago.
“As the first appointed county executive in Putnam County history, I’m honored and delighted to pass the baton of leadership to the first woman county executive in Putnam County history,” Eldridge said. “As we near the completion of the 33rd year of our charter-form of government, we finally had the sense to elect a woman.”
With a candidacy based on efficiency and taking responsibility for the future of one’s county, Odell said it would be under her tenure that Putnam would be able to regain its strength despite an instable economy and pressures from state mandates coming from Albany.
“[Eldridge] and I as well as the new administration all have the drive and determination to get this county and its economy back on track while making this government run as efficiently as demanded by the people and the taxpayers of Putnam County,” Odell said. “Together we will undo the years of wrong decisions and gross mismanagement of government, and we will do it through collaboration and hard work.”
Citing her message to residents to “take ownership” of their government, Odell thanked voters for taking the first step in allowing her to serve the county.
“I’d like to say to the people of Putnam County, thank you so much for hearing my message and thank you for believing that I can lead this county through these tough political and economic times,” Odell said. “We need to work together, we need to compromise and most importantly we need to trust. We need to keep an open mind and an open heart, and if we can do that, we can do anything.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.