Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne
Endorsement Letter Adds to Growing Grassroots Coalition of Registered Putnam Conservatives Supporting Byrne
Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne’s re-election campaign announced today that a group of longtime Conservative Party leaders from across New York and the Hudson Valley have endorsed Byrne for another term, citing his record of cutting taxes, reducing county debt, supporting law enforcement and first responders, and advancing conservative priorities throughout his public service career.
The endorsement comes in a newly released joint letter signed by New York State Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar; Grace White of Orange County; Dimitry Naemit, Sam Naemit and Bill Beckmann of Rockland County; Hugh Fox of Westchester County; and John Forman of Dutchess County. The signatories issued the letter in their personal capacities, though each one is a chairman or executive committee member in their respective county.
“We are longtime conservative leaders from across New York and the Hudson Valley, and, speaking in our personal capacities, we believe Kevin Byrne deserves to be re-elected Putnam County Executive,” the group wrote.
The leaders pointed to Byrne’s record in both Albany and Putnam County, noting that he received state and local Conservative Party endorsements during each of his three successful campaigns for State Assembly and earned an 87% conservative rating during his time in the Legislature.
“Since his election in 2022 as a Republican and Conservative-endorsed County Executive, Kevin has continued to put those principles into practice,” the group wrote. “He has cut taxes, reduced Putnam County’s debt, increased resources for law enforcement and first responders, and remained focused on affordability and quality of life for the residents of Putnam County.”
They concluded: “On issue after issue, Kevin has demonstrated that he is one of us — conservative to the core.”
The regional endorsement is the latest sign of organized conservative support for Byrne’s re-election. It comes in addition to a Putnam Conservative Coalition, a grassroots group of registered Conservatives from communities across Putnam County that is actively organizing and supporting Byrne’s campaign.
The coalition has brought together Conservative voters who support Byrne’s record and are working to ensure registered Conservatives across Putnam County know where he stands and understand their choices in this year’s election.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the support of these respected conservative leaders and the registered Conservatives here in Putnam County who have stepped forward, organized and are working hard on our behalf,” Byrne said. “For me, conservatism has never been about a label. It’s about what you actually do when entrusted with public office: cut taxes, control spending, reduce debt, support law enforcement, protect taxpayers and make government work better for the people it serves. That’s the record we’ve built in Putnam County, and that’s the record I’m proud to run on.”
In their letter, the conservative leaders also highlighted Byrne’s support for gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman and contrasted Byrne’s record with Democratic County Executive candidate Brett Yarris, who is also running on the Working Families Party line.
“This year’s ballot may be confusing, but our position is not,” the signatories wrote.
The full letter from the conservative leaders is being released publicly alongside the campaign’s announcement.