 He was a member of the Town Board of Oyster Bay, New York from 1972 until 1981.Carman was elected to the 97th United States Congress in 1980, defeating incumbent Democrat Jerome Ambro, and represented New York's 3rd congressional district from January 3, 1981, until January 3, 1983.He was not a candidate for re-election to the 98th United States Congress because he had no district to run in anymore due to redistricting.