Guest Column: MaryEllen Odell Looking Forward to the Next Four Years

The vote of confidence that I was fortunate enough to receive from the voters of Putnam County on Election Night was humbling. The results sent the clear message that the work my administration has done over the past three years is appreciated by the people of Putnam County. All of us are equally encouraged about Putnam’s future.

We live during a time where government has to be open to new ideas and different ways of getting the job done. I am committed to keeping Putnam fiscally strong and keeping our budget under the tax cap. My administration focuses on finding solutions and collaborating with people educated and invested in the issues. For instance, we have teamed up with chambers of commerce and local businesses to find ways to enhance economic opportunities and exposure within the county. With our libraries and not-for-profit organizations such as Putnam CAP and United Way, the county is able to act as a conduit between people and the resources they need. Fortunately, these partnerships have allowed the county to do more with less.

It is also important to mention that my administration would not have been able to accomplish as much as we have without the help of our county employees, town and village officials, career and volunteer first responders, seniors and veterans. I look forward to all of your continued contributions.

While we wait for Albany and Washington to close loopholes and provide local governments with much needed mandate relief, my administration will continue to fight corruption and fraud in the areas of Medicaid, workman’s compensation and disability. We have a responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, but not the people who are gaming the system.

The heroin epidemic has made its mark on Putnam County. It has affected families, neighbors and communities. As I announced during my 2015 Budget Address, Putnam County will be working with law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations such as Drugs Crisis in Our Backyard, Putnam County Communities that Care and others as we declare our War on Addiction and combat this epidemic from multiple fronts—through education, awareness, treatment and the law.

I stand firm in my stance against the NYS SAFE Act. Putnam County is a county made up of veterans, law enforcement officers, career and volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers. These men and women are willing to risk their lives day after day in Putnam, the surrounding counties and in New York City. They deserve to not only have the right to carry a gun but the right to do so without it being public knowledge. Putnam County will move forward with its appeal in the courts and I look forward to working with the County Clerk-elect Michael Bartolotti and taking the issue as far as it needs to go.

I am also looking forward to working with the Legislature and its newest members Toni Addonizio and Bill Gouldman.

I am confident that our NY Assembly members Sandy Galef and Dr. Steve Katz, our Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney as well as our newly elected NY State Senators Sue Serino and Dr. Terrence Murphy will do outstanding jobs making the needs of Putnam County known in Albany and bringing back to us some much needed aid.

It has been a privilege to serve you as county executive for the past three years and I am truly honored that you chose me to continue to serve you for the next four years.