County

Putnam County Executive

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The county executive is Putnam County's chief executive officer, who proposes the county budget and runs county departments.

Candidates Compare by issue

Brett Yarris

Democratic, Working Families, For the People

The gist

Proposes a Putnam community college campus
Proposes a county trade school tied to local jobs
Proposes spending down excess county fund balance on priorities
Supports accessory dwelling units, workforce and senior housing
Pledges to raise sales tax sharing with towns and villages
Proposes zero-based budgeting for county departments
Proposes a shared county police training center

More about Brett

View sources (1)

Proposes a Putnam community college campus
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“A Putnam community college campus would keep more of those dollars here”
Proposes a county trade school tied to local jobs
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“Putnam County needs a trade school because our future depends on more than four-year degrees.”
Proposes spending down excess county fund balance on priorities
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“As County Executive, I will end Tax and Hoard budgeting and invest responsibly in the people and communities of Putnam County.”
Supports accessory dwelling units, workforce and senior housing
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“including smart deregulation, expanded accessory dwelling units, workforce housing, senior housing, mixed-use development”
Pledges to raise sales tax sharing with towns and villages
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“As County Executive, I will increase the rate of sales tax sharing”
Proposes zero-based budgeting for county departments
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“I will implement a zero-based budgeting philosophy”
Proposes a shared county police training center
Brett's Policies: The Putnam Possible Project
Campaign website · Yarris for Putnam · yarrisforputnam.com
“Putnam needs a shared training center right here in Putnam for firearms qualification, tactical training, and ongoing certification.”

Tatiana Brahimi

Conservative

Kent

The gist

Supports aiding federal immigration deportation efforts
Opposed alleged critical race theory teaching in Carmel schools

More about Tatiana

View sources (1)

Supports aiding federal immigration deportation efforts
‘Real’ Conservative Joins Putnam Race
News coverage · The Highlands Current · Aug 19, 2026 · highlandscurrent.org
“has called for aiding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts”
Opposed alleged critical race theory teaching in Carmel schools
‘Real’ Conservative Joins Putnam Race
News coverage · The Highlands Current · Aug 19, 2026 · highlandscurrent.org
“crusading in 2021 against the alleged teaching of critical race theory in the Carmel school district”

Kevin M. Byrne

Republican, LibertarianIncumbent

The gist

Supports making the clothing and footwear sales tax exemption permanentIn office
Secured a $1 million county property tax levy cutIn office
Led a sales tax revenue-sharing deal with towns and villagesIn office
Proposed a $2 million county mental health services fundIn office
Proposes expanding Putnam On-Demand microtransit to more townsIn office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Kevin

View sources (4)

Supports making the clothing and footwear sales tax exemption permanent
Byrne Seeks to Make Clothing and Footwear Sales Tax Exemption Permanent
Public statement · Putnam County Executive's Office · putnamcountyny.gov
“Now, I want to make sure that tax never comes back.”
Secured a $1 million county property tax levy cut
Byrne Highlights Historic Tax Relief, Expansion of Services in 2026 State of the County
Public statement · Putnam County Executive's Office · putnamcountyny.gov
“Byrne highlighted the largest property tax levy reduction in county history, a $1 million cut adopted in the most recent county budget.”
Led a sales tax revenue-sharing deal with towns and villages
Byrne, Supervisors, Mayors Announce Historic Sales Tax Compromise and Major Property Tax Relief
Public statement · Putnam County Executive's Office · putnamcountyny.gov
“will be distributed to local municipalities based on population, with a guarantee that each will receive at least $50,000 annually”
Proposed a $2 million county mental health services fund
Byrne Announces Plan to Create $2 Million Mental Health Services Fund
Public statement · Putnam County Executive's Office · putnamcountyny.gov
“Putnam County will create a dedicated, flexible funding stream for mental health initiatives”
Proposes expanding Putnam On-Demand microtransit to more towns
Byrne Highlights Historic Tax Relief, Expansion of Services in 2026 State of the County
Public statement · Putnam County Executive's Office · putnamcountyny.gov
“Our next goal is to bring this service to other communities across Putnam County.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.