Video: Odell Sworn In As Putnam County Executive
She had to overcome two elections, an earthquake, a hurricane and an October nor’easter, but on Friday, Nov. 11 MaryEllen Odell was sworn in as Putnam County’s fifth county executive.
Odell, 51, a lifelong Carmel resident, was joined by family, friends, veterans and elected officials on the steps of the historical Putnam County Courthouse as she became the first female county executive for Putnam.
Former County Executive Paul Eldridge served as the master of ceremonies and former Gov. George Pataki performed the swearing in ceremony.
See the video of the swearing in ceremony and Odell’s inauguration speech here.
Odell will fill the remainder of the term initially won by former state senator Vincent Leibell who plead guilty to two felony charges on Dec. 6, 2010, weeks before he was supposed to be inaugurated.
On Jan. 1 the legislature appointed Eldridge, who had serves as the county’s personnel director, as county executive until an election was held and could be certified.
For more about the inauguration read Kerry Barger’s article in the Nov. 15 issue of The Putnam Examiner.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.