GOP Establishment Picks Leibell Over Odell
Primary battles begin for county executive, legislature
By Eric Gross
It was a landslide victory for State Senator Vincent Leibell over Putnam Legislator Mary Ellen Odell at Thursday’s GOP nominating convention.
The Mahopac Italian-American Club was filled with Republican committee people from each of Putnam’s six towns who in addition to selecting candidates for County Clerk, County Judge, and three seats on the Putnam Legislature, choose a candidate to succeed long time County Executive Robert Bondi.
Senator Leibell, the apparent heir to the throne for months after being touted as the county’s most popular and influential elected official was surprised like many other county residents when the day before the convention Odell announced her intention to seek the seat as well.
After being nominated by Randy Chiera of Philipstown, Leibell told the gathering: “I feel like a winner already because I am coming home to Putnam County.”
Odell, nominated by her husband David, said her leadership style would bring “everyone together.”
Following a 60 minute roll call and tabulation, Leibell was declared the winner receiving 154
votes to 63 votes for Odell.
Leibell called it an “honor to be nominated by my party. I am pleased to have the opportunity to come back home and seek the office of county executive. Many challenges lay ahead foremost among them is the tax crisis. We can and must do a lot better.”
Odell thanked her supporters as well: “I walked in here tonight and delivered my message that people should have a choice. It’s gratifying to see that so many people thought my message was on target.”
Odell promised to wage a primary against Leibell in September: “I’ll now be taking my message to all the people for the next 100 days!”
In the legislative races, Tony Hay who represents constituents in District No.6—greater Brewster and Southeast—won his 7th term without opposition. “Hay rides are always free! Aren’t they?” he asked.
In District 5—the seat now held by Odell, newcomer Carl Albano was declared the victor when Odell decided to withdraw from the race to seek the executive’s post. Albano thanked his friends and supporters: “ I am very happy tonight.”
When asked what his late father—wrestling and show business legend Captain Lou Albano was thinking, the successful candidate said: “Dad would have wanted me to yell and scream a little more. I’m sure he’s looking down from above tonight a happy man.”
In the District No. 9 race that pit incumbent Anthony Fusco against Carmel Deputy Supervisor Anthony DiCarlo and Mahopac businessman Neil Sullivan, DiCarlo squeaked out a victory by receiving 15 votes to 13 for Fusco and three for Sullivan.
Both Fusco and Sullivan promised to wage primary fights in September. DiCarlo said during his six-plus year tenure on the Carmel Town Board “I have proven myself because of my positive attitude. I now look to continue those efforts on the county level.”
County Clerk Dennis Sant, Putnam County Judge James Rooney, Congressional hopeful Nan Hayworth and Assembly hopefuls James Borkowski and William Gouldman were also endorsed at the convention.
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