Editing Putnam County, New York (section)

==Government and politics==
[[File:New Putnam County Courthouse April 2012.jpg|thumb|250px|The new Putnam County Courthouse in Carmel]]
[[File:PC Courthouse 800.jpg|thumb|250px|The Historic Putnam County Courthouse (1814) in Carmel]]
Governmental operations in Putnam County are set forth in the County Charter, which was approved by the voters of the County in November 1977.

The law-making and policy-making body of the county is an elected nine-member County Legislature. County laws, policies and regulations are administered on behalf of the County Legislature by an elected County Executive.

The current County Executive is [[Republican Party United States|Republican]] [[Kevin Byrne (New York politician)|Kevin M. Byrne]] (R) After serving the state of New York for 6 years as the Assemblyman of the 94th district, he won the Republican nomination for Putnam County Executive and then went unopposed in the general election.

Prior to the Charter form of government, the county's affairs were governed by a Board of Supervisors, with one Supervisor from each of the county's six towns having an equal vote. Since the towns had varying populations and such variance violated the principle of "[[one man, one vote]]", a system of weighted voting among the Board of Supervisors was implemented, but proved to be unwieldy. It was this imbalance which, among others factors, inspired the reorganization of County government under a charter form.

===County Legislature===
The current members of the county legislature for the 2025 session include 8 Republicans and 1 Democrat:<ref>{{cite web |title=Putnam Count Legislature |url=https://www.putnamcountyny.com/legislature |website=Putnam County, NY |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref>
* {{Party shading/Democratic/block}} District 1 - Nancy Montgomery (D)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 2 - William Gouldman (R)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 3 - Toni Addonizio (R)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 4 - Laura Russo (R)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 5 - Greg Ellner (R)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 6 - Paul Jonke (R), Chair
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 7 - Daniel G. Birmingham (R)
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 8 - Amy Sayegh (R), Deputy Chair
* {{Party shading/Republican/block}} District 9 - Erin L. Crowley (R)

County Legislators are elected to three-year terms. Each single-member district contains approximately 10,500 people. Any person elected to the County Legislature on or after February 1, 2014, is limited to four three-year terms in office (without taking into account any previous terms held by such person prior to February 1, 2014). Legislative terms are staggered so that one-third of the members of the County Legislature is elected each year.

{| class=wikitable
|+ '''Chairs of the County Legislature'''
|- valign=bottom
! Chair !! Party !! Years
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Ethel Forkell*
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1979
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | [[Robert Bondi|Robert J. Bondi]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1980–1981
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Raymond M. Maguire
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1982–1983
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Kevin L. Wright
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1984–1985
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Joseph G. Hickey
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1986–1989
|- {{Party shading/Democratic}}
| nowrap | [[Jim Gordon (sportscaster)|Jim Gordon]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1990–1993
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | William R. Bell
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1994–1996
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Arne Nordstrom
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1997
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Michael K. Semo Jr.
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1998
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Tony Hay
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 1999
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Arne Nordstrom
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2000
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Robert J. Pozzi
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2001–2002
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Robert McGuigan Jr.
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2003–2005
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Daniel G. Birmingham
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2006–2007
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Tony Hay
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2008–2009
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Vincent M. Tamagna
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2010–2011
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Mary F. Conklin
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2012
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Richard T. Othmer Jr.
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2013
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Carl L. Albano
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2014–2015
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Ginny Nacerino
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2016–2017
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Joseph Castellano
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2018–2019
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Toni Addonizio
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2020–2021
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Neal Sullivan
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2022
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| nowrap | Paul Jonke
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2023–Present
|}
* * The County Charter took effect on January 1, 1979, and the County Legislature was established on that day. The County Board of Supervisors was dissolved on the previous day and members of the County Legislature for the year 1979 were the supervisors of each of the six towns. Ethel Forkell was Supervisor of the Town of Kent and was elected by her colleagues as the first Chair of the County Legislature.

===County Executives===
The county has had six County Executives:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Party
! Term
|- {{party shading/Democratic}}
| David D. Bruen
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1986
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| Peter C. Alexanderson
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 1, 1987 – December 31, 1990
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| Robert Bondi|Robert J. Bondi
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 1, 1991 – December 31, 2010
|- {{party shading/Independent (United States)}}
| Paul J. Eldridge<ref name="disc5">{{cite web|title=County Executive's Office|year=2011|publisher=Putnam County, New York|access-date=January 24, 2011|url=http://www.putnamcountyny.com/countyexecutive/ceo.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128023944/http://putnamcountyny.com/countyexecutive/ceo.htm|archive-date=November 28, 2010}}</ref>
| [[Independent Party (United States)|Independent]]
| January 1, 2011 – November 11, 2011
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| MaryEllen Odell
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| November 11, 2011 – December 31, 2022
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
| [[Kevin Byrne (New York politician)|Kevin M. Byrne]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| January 1, 2023 – present
|- {{party shading/Republican}}
|}

===County Courts===
There are three types of general trial courts in Putnam County: the [[New York Supreme Court]], the County Court and the Justice Courts. The Supreme Court is the trial level court of the [[New York State Unified Court System]], which presents some confusion as the Supreme Court is the highest court of appeals in the federal system as well as in most states, whereas the Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York. The [[New York Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] has broad authority over all categories of cases, both civil and criminal. Generally the Supreme Court in Putnam hears civil cases involving claims in excess of $25,000. While the Supreme Court has [[jurisdiction]] over criminal cases in most counties this is handled by the County Courts. In Putnam, however, the Supreme Court does exercise jurisdiction over some criminal cases.<ref name="disc7">{{cite web|author=New York State united court system|title=Courts in Putnam county|year=2007|publisher=New York State united court system|access-date=January 13, 2008|url=http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/9jd/Putnam/supremecounty.shtml|archive-date=January 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111095035/http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/9jd/Putnam/supremecounty.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[New York Supreme Court|County Court]] is authorized to hear all criminal cases that have occurred in the county as well as limited jurisdiction over civil cases. The County Court handles felony cases exclusively and shares jurisdiction with the town and village justice courts on misdemeanor cases and other minor offenses and violations. The County Court's jurisdiction on civil cases is limited to those involving less than $25,000.<ref name="disc7" />

The Historic Putnam County Courthouse is located in the town of Carmel.<ref name="disc7" /> Built in 1814 in Greek Revival style, it is the second oldest working courthouse in New York, second to the one in [[Johnstown (city), New York|Johnstown]]. Portico and pillars were added to the structure in the 1840s. It was recently extensively remodeled to preserve the structure and adapt it for use as the Surrogate's Court.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.visitputnam.org/historic/carmel.html |title=Putnam County Visitors' Bureau |access-date=February 5, 2008 |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316103113/http://www.visitputnam.org/historic/carmel.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The new Putnam County Courthouse opened on January 2, 2008. It was constructed at a cost of $22.8 million. Jury assembly, court clerks and a public law library are located on the first floor. The second floor includes a Family Court and hearing room. On all floors are judges' chambers, jury deliberation rooms, prisoner cells and conference rooms. The third floor has two courtrooms for the County Court. The Supreme Court and a law library occupy the fourth floor.<ref>[http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071229/NEWS04/712290359 "Putnam's $22.8M courthouse to open Wednesday," by Susan Elan, ''The Journal News'', December 29, 2007 ]</ref>

===Law enforcement===
Law enforcement is providing by the following departments:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Local Law Enforcement|url=http://www.putnamcountyny.com/district-attorneys-office/local-law-enforcement/|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=Putnam County Online|language=en-US}}</ref>

* State-side: [[New York State Police#Troops|K Troop]], [[New York State Police]] (Zone 2, based on [[New York State Route 22|Route 22]], at the Brewster Barracks<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Emergency Services|url=https://www.pattersonny.org/Emergency.php|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=www.pattersonny.org}}</ref>)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Troop Location Information|url=https://troopers.ny.gov/troop-location-information|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=New York State Police|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Troop K|url=https://troopers.ny.gov/location/troop-k|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=New York State Police|language=en}}</ref>
* County-side: [[Putnam County Sheriff's Department]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Putnam County Sheriff's Department {{!}} Sheriff Kevin McConville |url=https://www.putnamsheriff.com/ |access-date=January 28, 2021 |website=www.putnamsheriff.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Town/Village-side:<ref name=":0" /> [[Philipstown, New York|Philipstown]]: ([[Village of Cold Spring Police Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police Department {{!}} Cold Spring, NY|url=https://www.coldspringny.gov/police-department|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=www.coldspringny.gov}}</ref>), [[Southeast, New York|Southeast]]: ([[Village of Brewster Police Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brewster Police Department|url=http://brewstervillage-ny.gov/index.php/government/brewster-police-department|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=brewstervillage-ny.gov}}</ref>), [[Town of Carmel Police Department (New York)|Town of Carmel Police Department]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police Department {{!}} Carmel NY|url=https://www.ci.carmel.ny.us/police-department|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=www.ci.carmel.ny.us}}</ref> [[Town of Kent Police Department]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Police Department {{!}} Kent NY|url=https://www.townofkentny.gov/police-department|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=www.townofkentny.gov}}</ref> and the Putnam County Probation Department.<ref name=":0" />
The Putnam County Sheriff's Office includes a Civil Bureau, patrol division, a marine unit, a motorcycle unit, a school resource unit, and a narcotics enforcement unit.<ref name=":0" />

===County Sheriff===
The current Sheriff, Kevin McConville ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]) was elected on November 3, 2021. The Sheriff's Department includes a Civil Bureau, patrol division, a marine unit, a motorcycle unit, a school resource unit, and a narcotics enforcement unit.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 2, 2021|title=Putnam County Election 2021: McConville Ousts Langley|url=https://patch.com/new-york/southeast/putnam-county-election-2021-polls-close|access-date=November 3, 2021|website=Southeast-Brewster, NY Patch|language=en}}</ref>

===State and national government===
{{PresHead|place=Putnam County, New York|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 24, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|31,553|23,956|505|New York}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|29,277|24,949|885|New York}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|27,024|19,366|2,173|New York}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|24,083|19,512|750|New York}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|25,145|21,613|486|New York}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|26,356|19,575|640|New York}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|21,853|18,525|2,176|New York}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|17,452|16,173|4,807|New York}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|18,934|14,048|8,281|New York}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|24,086|12,158|256|New York}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|25,707|9,473|97|New York}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|20,193|8,691|2,935|New York}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|18,523|11,963|225|New York}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|21,673|7,747|77|New York}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|13,293|8,472|2,549|New York}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,219|12,636|24|New York}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|11,946|8,013|28|New York}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|12,898|4,694|0|New York}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|11,038|5,001|58|New York}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|8,222|4,012|643|New York}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|7,010|4,251|33|New York}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|7,164|4,794|39|New York}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|5,761|4,682|190|New York}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|4,633|3,730|149|New York}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,534|2,278|169|New York}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,796|1,472|337|New York}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,447|1,405|59|New York}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,717|1,290|23|New York}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,267|1,321|624|New York}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,275|1,369|104|New York}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,316|1,395|59|New York}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,219|1,345|67|New York}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,364|1,027|104|New York}}
{{PresRow|1892|Republican|1,846|1,549|214|New York}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,098|1,515|109|New York}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,103|1,526|93|New York}}
|}
Putnam County is part of the 94th State Assembly District (Towns of Carmel, Patterson, Putnam Valley and Southeast), represented by [[Matt Slater (politician)|Matt Slater]] (R),<ref>{{cite web|title=Assemblyman Kevin M. Byrne Assembly District 94|url=http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Kevin-M-Byrne/map/|website=New York State Assembly|access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> and the 95th State Assembly District (Towns of Kent and Phillipstown), represented by [[Dana Levenberg]] (D).<ref>{{cite web|title=Assemblywoman Sandy Galef Assembly District 95|url=http://nyassembly.gov/mem/Sandy-Galef/map/|website=New York State Assembly|access-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref>

Putnam County is part of the 40th State Senate District (Towns of Carmel, Patterson, and Southeast), represented by [[Peter Harckham]] (D),<ref>{{cite web|title=New York State Senator Peter Harckham|url=https://www.nysenate.gov/district/40|website=The New York State Senate|publisher=New York State Senate|access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref> and the 41st State Senate District (Towns of Kent, Phillipstown and Putnam Valley), represented by Democrat [[Michelle Hinchey]].

Putnam County is located in the [[New York's 17th congressional district|17th congressional district]] and has been represented by Republican [[Mike Lawler]] since 2023.

Putnam County has voted consistently for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] presidential candidates, largely bucking the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] trend in the New York City suburbs. From 1828 to 1868, Putnam was a Democratic stronghold, but since 1872, the only Democratic presidential nominees to carry Putnam County have been [[Woodrow Wilson]] [[1912 United States presidential election in New York|in 1912]] and [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] [[1964 United States presidential election in New York|in 1964]].<ref>[http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/comparemaps.php?year=2008&fips=36&f=1&off=0&elect=0 David Leip's Presidential Atlas (Historical election maps for New York)]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/nyregion/putnam-county-republican-election.html|title=Amid New York's Blue Wave, a Republican County Resists|author=Tyler Pager|date=November 26, 2018|access-date=December 2, 2020|work=New York Times}}</ref>