CARMEL, N.Y. - Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville has withdrawn from the race in his bid for re-election due to illness.
With McConville, who received the Republican and Conservative Party nominations, already on the ballot, his decision to withdraw could put the GOP in a difficult spot as the deadline for filing a petition to get on the ballot for the November general elections has passed. The Democrats, who did not nominate a candidate initially, would face the same challenge.
In a letter to Sheriff’s Office employees obtained by Mahopac News, Undersheriff Thomas Lindert writes, “I have been asked by Sheriff McConville to convey to all members that he will not be seeking re-election to the post of Putnam County sheriff in 2025.
“The sheriff has been dealing with some medical issues and is still under medical care,” the letter continued. "As such, he wishes to spend his time with his family and friends. Sheriff McConville is looking forward to seeing you all at the Sheriff's Office soon to finish out the remainder of his current term in office.”
The only other candidate currently on the ballot is Lawrence Burke, former officer-in-charge (equivalent to chief) of the part-time Cold Spring police force. Burke joined the Cold Spring Police Department in 2013 and was named officer-in-charge in 2017. He retired in 2024. He is running as an independent candidate under the Serve & Protect Party line.
However, Burke’s petition has been challenged by a resident named Cindy M. Trimble, according to the Putnam County Board of Elections.
According to Cathy Croft, a Putnam County election commissioner, one has three days to file an objection after a petition is turned in and six days to fill in the specifics of the objections, where the petition is examined line by line. The result of the objection(s) is due this week.
There are several reasons a signature on a petition may be discounted. For example: they have already signed someone else’s petition for that race, they gave a false address or live outside the office’s jurisdiction, or the signature has been forged.
“They need to be specific [in their objections],” Croft told Mahopac News.
Croft said that while it is technically too late to file another petition and get someone new on the ballot, she added, “Never say never.”
“When you bring the courts into it, anything can happen,” she said. “This is a first for me [seeing something like this] and I haven’t had a chance to really research it yet.”
In a press release, Andres Gil, chair of the Putham County Republican Committee, stated that the committee leadership is exploring all available options as it identifies and reviews the process to “substitute a qualified Republican candidate” for Sheriff in November’s election.
Croft pointed out that the ballot for the November general elections has yet to be certified by the county.
“We still have to wait for the primaries to be held in June," she said. "Then we don’t certify the general election till September.”
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