Denbaum: “I can do a better job …”
CARMEL – Kent Councilman Paul Denbaum hopes to become Putnam County’s new county executive. The two-term Republican announced his intention to wrestle the nomination away from Mary Ellen Odell at next month’s GOP caucus.
Denbaum is a corporate lawyer in Westchester. He grew up in Dutchess County before relocating to Kent eight years ago.
Denbaum said he decided to run for county executive because “I can do a better job by bringing my brand of limited government and lower taxes to the county executive’s office. Besides, things in Putnam have become stagnated. I want my family to grow up here and raise their children in Putnam County, not move away like so many of our friends are being forced to do as a result of skyrocketing taxes.”
He believes that Putnam County can be moved into the future like Marcus Molinaro has done in Dutchess County. “It takes a leader to move issues forward. We can no longer tolerate the lack of businesses and job growth that sadly our county has become known for. Fluff and pet projects such as Tilly Foster and the Putnam Golf Course divert important county resources from roads and infrastructure at the expense of tax bills. Putnam is more than a farm and golf course. Until we elect a county executive who will think big and share a vision for the future, we will never realize our true potential.”
Denbaum credited his fiscal conservatism along with his colleagues on the Kent Town Board for adopting no new tax increase budgets for Lake Carmel-Kent-Kent Cliffs residents during his tenure.
Denbaum also pushed for term limits for Kent’s elected officials. “We must recognize the value of fresh ideas and new people in local government. The adoption of such legislation overwhelmingly approved by our electorate ensures that Kent will be run by a citizen government and not career politicians.”
Odell welcomed Denbaum into the race.
“Putnam County has been my home and my family’s home for all of my life,” Odell said. “This county is my family. It is my number one priority to make sure that Putnam remains safe and fiscally sound. I am proud of the work and achievements we have shared since first running for the position in 2010.”
Odell added that she remained committed and focused on “making sure Putnam continues to have the lowest county tax rate of any of the 62 counties found in the Empire State as well as developing a strong main street economy.”
Whether he receives the Republican nomination or not at the May GOP convention, Denbaum said he is “in the race to the finish. My name will appear on the Republican Primary ballot one way or another this September because I care about Putnam County just as much as MaryEllen does; I share our residents’ values just as much as the incumbent; the difference is that I will do all of that while moving Putnam County forward.”
Denbaum is the second Kent resident to toss a hat into the ring in seeking the county’s top governmental position. Kent Supervisor Maureen Fleming announced last month her intent to challenge Odell on the Democratic line this fall.
