NEW YORK, NY — Julie Killian, a mother of five children, a longtime community volunteer, advocate against teenage drug abuse, respected two-term Rye City Councilwoman and current Deputy Mayor, today announced her candidacy for New York’s 37th State Senate District.
During an announcement that was attended by dozens of friends, family, supporters and local officials, Killian, a Republican, laid out a reform platform that included enacting term limits, providing tax and mandate relief, improving public schools, promoting substance abuse prevention and helping small businesses.
“I am a mother, a neighbor, a long time community volunteer, and a deeply concerned citizen. Everyone who knows me understands exactly why I’m running for State Senate,” Killian said in her remarks at Rye Town Park. “I love New York but I am deeply concerned about our New York State government. Regular people like me have lost confidence in Albany. We have a state government that’s riddled with corruption and with career politicians. We must change that. We must take back our government from the career politicians who care more about themselves than the people they were elected to serve.”
Killian has been active in her community for years. In 2012, she joined the Rye City Council after being appointed to fill a vacancy. She was reelected in 2013, garnering the most votes of all council candidates. Killian also served on the Westchester County Charter Revision Commission from 2011-2014, on the Rye Town Park Commission and co-founded RyeACT (Rye Action for Children and Teens), which is a coalition that brings our community together to educate and empower local teenagers to stay off drugs. RyeACT is one of only 20 communities in America to receive a federal mentor grant from the Drug Free Communities Program.
She is on the Board of the Kroc Institute for Peace at the University of Notre Dame; is an active former Board member of School of the Holy Child and Part of the Solution (POTS), a soup kitchen and social services agency in the Bronx. She is a long-time volunteer for local library, arts, historical, and school organizations.
Killian, one of six children herself, has a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and had a 13-year career in finance at Merrill Lynch and Citibank while attaining an MBA in Finance from the New York University Stern School of Business. She well understands where New York errs in spending and borrowing.
She and her husband, Gary, have five children.
The 37th State Senate District encompasses Armonk, Bedford, Bronxville, Crestwood, Eastchester, Harrison, Katonah, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, North Castle, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye City, White Plains and Yonkers.