2026 New York General Election

Shawn M. Keeler

Buket Urgen

Shawn M. KeelerShawn M. KeelerDemocratic Incumbent (NY)SharePick candidate
Highway SuperintendentPutnam Valley Town · 2021 to now
Highway LaborerPutnam Valley Town Highway
New York Lieutenant Governor

Shawn M. Keeler previously worked as a highway laborer with Putnam Valley Town Highway.

Shawn M. Keeler for Putnam Valley Town Highway ... - Sway

This year we are being offered a choice between two men who have faced each other before: Shawn Keeler and Mark Pawera. Keeler, a Democrat, is the incumbent, having beaten Pawera, a Republican, by just 41 votes in 2021. This year the Conservative Party, in a reversal, has decided to endorse Keeler rather than Pawera.

The Battle for Highway Superintendent

Shawn Keeler, who ran uncontested for Highway Superintendent on the Democratic and Conservative lines, was reelected with 99% of the votes. The Putnam County Sheriff will be Republican Brian Hess.

PV Election Results

Shawn currently serves as Putnam Valley's Superintendent of Highways. He was elected in 2021 and reelected to a second term.

As highway superintendent, he toured storm-damaged areas with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to assess damage and identify immediate needs.

Because the storm resulted in a Declaration of State of Emergency, we were able to connect with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on an emergency basis. A DEC team met with our Highway Superintendent, Shawn Keeler, and toured areas of concern throughout the Town to assess the damage and identify immediate needs.

Lessons From the Storm: Supervisor’s Newsletter, August 2026

Said new plow trucks and street sweepers enable faster cleanup of snow, ice, and drainage issues.

In summarizing his first term, Keeler pointed to the significant investments he persuaded the town board to make in new equipment such as plow trucks and street sweepers, while generating $187,000 in revenue from selling older equipment that had been out of use for years. He says these purchases enable his 22-man crew to clean up snow and ice more quickly and clean gutter lines and ditches to allow water to flow faster to the sides of the roads.

In his first term, he says the department has also repaved more than 7 miles of local roads.