Primavera Takes Over As Putnam GOP Election Commissioner

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Kelly Primavera, sworn in June 23 as Putnam County's Republican Election Commissioner, brings years of experience to the job.

Primavera has been with the county's Board of Elections for 18 years, as an election specialist before being appointed Deputy Commissioner in 2015.

The Mahopac resident told Patch the biggest issue facing the BOE is finding election day poll workers.

"It was always a problem before COVID but now it is worse!" she said. "If anyone of your readers is either A Republican or a Democrat who would be interested in working please have them call us at 845-808-1300."

In Putnam, election commissioners are paid $98,235 a year.

In New York, county boards of election are run by two commissioners, one a Democrat and one a Republican, who are nominated by their respective county-level parties' committees and confirmed by the county legislature. In Putnam County, the Democratic commissioner is Cathy Croft.

Primavera moved into the top GOP spot after its longtime office holder, Anthony Scannapieco Jr., quit amid controversy over the Republican nominee for county executive and errors on a nominating petition for county lawmaker Neal Sullivan. SEE: Chair Of Putnam County Legislature Off The Primary Ballot

The Republican commissioner for three decades, Scannapieco is also longtime head of the Putnam County Republican Committee, which endorsed state Assembly Member Kevin Byrne over his pick, county Legislator Carl Albano. Byrne had accused him of undermining his campaign and Scannapieco wrote two letters to party members describing Byrne as a disloyal, dishonorable snake-oil salesman.

In his resignation letter to outgoing County Executive MaryEllen Odell, Scannapieco wrote that "the political landscape in Putnam County has become more contentious than ever before, and individuals no longer behave with civility and decorum."