Three candidates are vying for county executive this November in what has been a hotly contested and divisive campaign. When voters go to the polls on Nov. 3, Republican incumbent Kevin Byrne will find himself squaring off against two challengers—Democrat Brett Yarris and Conservative Party candidate Tatiana Brahimi.
Here is a close-up look at each candidate.
Incumbent Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne is seeking a second four-year term. He is campaigning on his administration's record of tax relief, debt reduction and expanded county services while promising to continue efforts to make Putnam more affordable.
Byrne, 41, is running on the Republican and Libertarian party lines. A lifelong Putnam resident and Carmel High School grad, Byrne now lives in Mahopac with his wife, Briana, a physician assistant, and their son, Braeden.
Byrne earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Scranton and a master's in public administration from Marist University. His professional background includes healthcare administration, emergency medical services, and congressional staff work. He served six years in the state Assembly before becoming county executive.
Byrne said his administration has delivered more than $10 million in combined property and targeted sales tax relief, reduced long-term county debt by 58 percent and negotiated contracts with all four county unions.
He also cited construction of the Fire and EMS Training Center, the launch of Putnam On Demand transportation, a countywide community paramedicine program and the opening of an Early Learning Center serving preschool children and those with special needs.
"We've shown responsible government can cut taxes and reduce debt, while improving services and settling fair contracts with all four county unions," he said.
Asked what he would have handled differently, Byrne offered a brief response: "I would have hired a different county attorney" (a reference to County Attorney C. Compton Spain).
The county's substantial fund balance has become a campaign issue, with challengers arguing that more money should be returned to taxpayers or invested in services.
Byrne defended the reserves, saying the county's 2025 audit identified approximately $61.8 million in unassigned funds, with additional money restricted, committed or assigned for specific purposes.
"Healthy reserves guard against emergencies and downturns," he said, warning that spending money designated for future obligations could create structural deficits and eventually require tax increases.
His tentative 2027 budget proposes a $6.5 million property tax levy reduction, along with making permanent the sales tax exemption on essential clothing and footwear.
"It's taxpayer money and we shouldn't take more than we need," Byrne said.
He also supports the Legislature's restoration of its authority over the fund balance but believes lawmakers should consult financial experts before making significant changes.
Regarding the county's unsuccessful effort to establish a mental health stabilization center in Carmel, Byrne said he still supports the concept while respecting residents' concerns and the Carmel Planning Board's decision.
"Losing one option does not mean abandoning people who need support," he said.
He pointed to more than $2 million preserved for mental health services and proposed expanding mobile crisis response, school-based assistance, law enforcement referrals and first responder wellness programs.
Looking ahead, Byrne identified affordability, access to services and public safety as major priorities. He wants to expand Putnam on Demand, strengthen community paramedicine, improve accessibility, and provide additional resources to law enforcement.
He also pledged continued cooperation with state and federal law enforcement agencies.
"I continue to oppose sanctuary policies that restrict that cooperation," he said. "Putnam will remain a rule-of-law county."
Byrne said his experience in government, healthcare, and emergency services distinguishes him from his challengers. He cited his public forums, livestreamed meetings, and refusal to accept a salary increase during his first term.
He also pointed to endorsements from more than 30 labor, business and public safety organizations, including the Putnam County Sheriff's Employees Association, NYPD Police Benevolent Association and several building trades unions.
"Voters deserve measurable results," Byrne said. "My record shows lower taxes, reduced debt, and stronger services while planning for the future."
Brett Yarris, the Democratic candidate for Putnam County executive, says the county needs a new approach to affordability and economic development—one that creates opportunities for young people while easing the financial pressures facing families and businesses.
Yarris is running on the Democratic and Working Families/For the People party lines. An entrepreneur and former special educator, he is vice chairman of the Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District and co-founder of Pro Football Network, which he helped build into a multimillion-dollar media business.
He has spent more than 15 years in business leadership and has also coached professional athletes and advocated for families and underserved communities.
Raised by a single mother, Yarris was the first member of his immediate family to graduate from college. He has two children, a 10-year-old daughter and a 5-year-old son, whose futures he said are central to his decision to run.
"I don't have generations for Putnam County to keep doing it the way it's always been done," he said. "I've got limited time to convince them they can build their lives here."
Yarris said Putnam has become increasingly unaffordable, with young people leaving to find employment, working families struggling with housing costs and businesses having difficulty attracting employees.
"I'm running because Putnam needs that same entrepreneurial leadership, not another four years of managing the status quo," he said.
A major focus of his campaign is the county's substantial fund balance, which he believes should be used more strategically to benefit taxpayers.
"Putnam has accumulated enormous hoards of extra tax dollars while residents face an affordability crisis," Yarris said. "That's not responsible financial management if government is taking more than it needs while it's people struggle."
He said he would maintain appropriate reserves while establishing transparent fiscal policies and pursuing sustainable tax relief rather than what he characterized as one-time, election-year giveaways.
Yarris said that he also wants to use county resources to reduce long-term costs, improve infrastructure, and encourage economic development.
"Government shouldn't exist to accumulate taxpayer money," he said. "It should deliver measurable value to the people paying the bills."
On mental health services, Yarris supports establishing a stabilization center, despite the collapse of plans for a facility in Carmel.
"Putnam needs accessible crisis intervention services, and families shouldn't have to leave the county to get help," he said.
However, he criticized the way the recently rejected project was handled, saying the county failed to secure sufficient community support and resolve concerns about its location and implementation.
Yarris said he would bring mental health professionals, emergency responders, municipal officials and residents together early in the process to identify a suitable location and develop a sustainable operating plan.
His broader economic development strategy centers on what he calls the "Putnam Possible Project," which would establish a Putnam Careers Campus offering community college and trade school opportunities.
The initiative would include partnerships with employers to develop the local workforce, infrastructure improvements, and cooperation with municipalities to expand housing choices while respecting community character.
Yarris said that laying the groundwork for the Careers Campus would be his top priority during his first year in office.
"Education and workforce development can become an economic engine that creates jobs, attracts investment, and gives young people a reason to build their futures here," he said.
Yarris argues that incumbent Byrne has failed to adequately address the high cost of living in the county.
"Kevin Byrne has had four years to address Putnam's affordability crisis. Instead, it's gotten worse," he said, citing rising housing costs and the departure of young residents.
Yarris said his business background and long-term economic development plan distinguish him from both incumbent Byrne and fellow challenger Tatiana Brahimi.
"I'm not running simply to occupy an office or move up the political ladder," Yarris said. "I'm running to change the trajectory of this county."
Tatiana Brahimi, the Conservative Party candidate for Putnam County executive, is campaigning on a promise to reduce taxes, restore public trust in county government and make public safety a priority, while sharply criticizing Byrne's leadership.
Brahimi, 50, is a wife, mother and first-generation American. She was born and raised in the Morris Park section of the Bronx by Italian immigrant parents before moving to Long Island.
Her father was a Vietnam War combat veteran who later became a New York City police officer. Her husband, whom she describes as her childhood sweetheart, immigrated to the United States from a communist country.
Brahimi said she attended Mercy College, where she studied corporate and homeland security. She worked in banking for nearly two decades, including investigating internal fraud, illegal wire transfers, and financial crimes. She also worked for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision at Green Haven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County.
She has been active in community advocacy, including disputes over educational materials and spending in the Carmel Central School District.
Brahimi said the murder of her son, Michael, profoundly affected her life and strengthened her commitment to victims of crime and their families.
She has never held elected office and considers her experience outside politics an advantage.
"I am not a career politician, and I have not lived off the taxpayers for my entire adult life," she said. "I am an everyday, taxpaying resident who believes that public service is a responsibility, not a privilege or an entitlement."
Brahimi said she entered the race because she believes the county government has lost sight of its responsibilities to taxpayers.
Her most significant fiscal proposal is a two-year suspension of county property taxes, followed by a long-term plan to reduce property and sales taxes.
"I will propose a two-year property tax holiday (that means zero county property tax for two years) and then work with the Legislature to formulate a long-term plan for property tax and sales tax reduction," she said.
Brahimi has accused the Byrne administration of accumulating approximately $200 million in county reserves while residents struggle with living expenses.
"Taxpayer money belongs to the taxpayers, and government has an obligation to justify how much it collects, how much it spends, and how much it retains," she said.
She also wants to explore transferring property assessment responsibilities from towns to a county assessor's office and establish a permanent sales tax revenue-sharing arrangement with municipalities.
On mental health services, Brahimi opposes construction of a stabilization center but supports improving existing programs.
"I believe Putnam County must have effective, accessible mental health and crisis intervention services," she said. "However, recognizing the need for services does not automatically mean building another facility."
She cited concerns about public safety, security, and the potential effects of such a facility on surrounding neighborhoods.
Brahimi identified affordability, infrastructure, economic development, and public safety among the county's greatest challenges.
She supports economic development that preserves community character, particularly assistance to local businesses, farmers, and the agricultural community. She also pledged support for the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and federal immigration enforcement.
Restoring confidence in the county government would be another priority. Brahimi said she would emphasize qualifications and independence in appointments, including to the county Board of Ethics, and eliminate what she described as political favoritism and retaliation.
"There will be no room in my administration for politics, pay to play, political favors and retaliation," she said.
Brahimi also criticized Byrne's campaign fundraising practices and his relationships with county legislators, while emphasizing that she is not seeking office as a steppingstone to another political position.
She opposes establishing a Putnam County community college, another distinction between her platform and that of Democratic challenger Brett Yarris.
Brahimi said voters seeking meaningful tax relief and an end to political conflict should support her candidacy.
"I entered this race because I believe the taxpayers of Putnam County deserve better," she said.
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