Captain Lou’s Son to Run for Legislature

Carl Albano Carl Albano, the son of the late Captain Lou Albano, has thrown his hat into the ring to seek the legislative seat now held by Putnam Legislator Mary Ellen Odell of Carmel.

Albano said he decided to enter the political arena because “taxes are killing us. Government is too top heavy. Putnam needs a lean government and its officials must pay attention to details while sharpening their pencils.”

Albano and his wife operate the Albano Insurance Agency in Mahopac: “Our business has been successful for some three decades because Anita and I watch every penny. Government must operate like business. It is business— big business.”

Albano, who prides the fact that he has been a registered Republican since the age of 18, plans to run on the GOP line this fall.

Legislator Odell was taken back by the announcement: “Out of respect for the seat and the leadership of the GOP as well as the Putnam Republican Committee, I have not decided which avenue I’ll be pursuing. I’m a little taken back that Mr. Albano didn’t give me the courtesy of a phone call since we have known each other for 40 years.”

Odell has been mentioned as one of several potential candidates for the Assembly seat being vacated by Greg Ball, who intends to run for the State Senate seat currently held by Senator Vincent Leibell.

Other names in the mix for the seat that represents constituents in Carmel, Southeast, and Patterson along with Pawling, North Salem, Somers, and Yorktown, include Somers Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy, former Southeast Town Judge James Borkowski, Steven Katz of Mohegan Lake, Yorktown Councilman Nick Bianco, and Rick Shaw of Yorktown Heights.

Asked about the incumbent, Albano told the COURIER his commitment had been made: “I’m in the race with both feet and I am going to run whether or not Mary Ellen decides to seek the 99th District Assembly seat or runs for reelection on the Putnam Legislature.”

Albano said after discussing the matter with his wife of 33 years and the couple’s five children—Maria, Danielle, Katherine, Louis, and Juliet—a “family decision was unanimous. Besides, my dad is looking down right now beaming, since he enjoyed interacting with the public. Captain Lou never was involved in politics. The closest he came was when he had bumper stickers printed espousing ‘Captain Lou for President.’ He changed his mind, but the country would have been a lot different today had my father been serious about the office.”

Carl Albano is very serious: “County government is a big business. We can’t keep on leveraging into the future. The future is now. Spending today and worrying about paying it off tomorrow must stop.”