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Putnam County Clerk Candidates Differ Over Gun-Permit Records

CARMEL, N.Y. -- The two candidates who are vying to become the next Putnam county clerk differ sharply on how they would have handled the disclosure of gun permit records when asked at a forum at the Carmel VFW Hall on Wednesday night.

Michael Bartolotti, left and Lithgow Osborne met in debate on Wednesday.

Michael Bartolotti, left and Lithgow Osborne met in debate on Wednesday.

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie

The refusal of incumbent County Clerk Dennis Sant to deny a records request from The Journal News was a major news story in 2013. The paper later announced it had filed suit over the denial. The newspaper was not referred to by name during the debate. Instead, a co-moderator mentioned that the request was from an “out of county newspaper.” The Journal News is based in Westchester but also covers Putnam.

Republican candidate Michael Bartolotti, who works in the clerk’s office as a deputy, steadfastly defended the denial, saying “I stood shoulder to shoulder with my boss.”

“I will continue to fight and do whatever I can to make sure that the privacy and safety of the citizens in Putnam County are protected,” Bartolotti said.

Bartolotti contended that officials have a “duty and a responsibility” to citizens. Mentioning exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act, he talked about responding to a request to see if it poses harm, a privacy or safety issue.

Democratic candidate Lithgow Osborne was steadfastly critical.

“I believe in the law,” he said.

“That information was legally requested and should have been given right away,” Osborne noted.

Responding to a moderator’s question, Osborne also dismissed the notion of criminals preying on people if they get their gun records.

“It’s not criminals who set out to look for law-abiding citizens and their weapon,” he said. “I think you’re giving them far too much credit.”

The candidates weighed in on other issues, including online usage and bringing services over to the western side of Putnam.

Both candidates declared support for enhancing service in western Putnam but have different approaches for doing so.

Bartolotti said he would start with a “measured step” and bring over services that can be handled easily. He named passports, a search terminal and a Department of Motor Vehicle drop box as examples of services.

Osborne would like to place emphasis first on updating the clerk’s website, and would also like to know the cost projection.

The forum was co-sponsored by The Putnam County Courier and The Putnam County News & Recorder.

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