For the last 25 years, Julie Killian has worked to make Westchester County a better place to live, work and raise a family.
As a Rye City Councilwoman and Deputy Mayor, Julie led the fight to reform local government and held the line on property taxes. Julie also protected Rye taxpayers by selling unnecessary city property and using the proceeds to fund critical infrastructure investments.
As a committed government reformer with zero tolerance for corruption and malfeasance, Julie adopted stronger ethics laws and instituted a new conflict of interest policy for elected officials and department heads. She played a key role in hiring a new city manager and police commissioner and professionalized the management of city operations.
A leader in the fight against substance abuse, Julie co-founded RyeACT (Rye Action for Children and Teens) to fight youth drug and alcohol abuse. RyeACT works with the federal government and regional partners to promote prevention through a positive cultural framework. Specifically, RyeACT trains local leaders and youth, develops prevention messages and provides local access to drug and alcohol abuse prevention experts. Julie is also passionate about all mental health issues including reducing the stigma and increased awareness, helping the 4% of population that is severely mentally ill, and early intervention and prevention efforts. \
As liaison to the Sustainability and Traffic and Pedestrian Safety committees on the Rye City Council, Julie has also been supportive of a host of environmental initiatives including addressing coastal erosion, wetlands and flood mitigation efforts to build resiliency in preparation for future natural disasters and supported investment in transportation infrastructure and efficiencies to reduce single occupancy vehicle emissions and promote mass transit options.
Born in Mt. Vernon, one of six siblings, Julie learned the value of an honest day’s work – and the importance of education – at an early age. As a teenager, she started a summer camp with her sister and waited tables at a pizza place at night, often working 15-hour days each summer to help pay for college.
After earning a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from New York University, Julie spent more than a decade working on Wall Street in the financial services industry. She and her husband Gary have five children. Julie spent six years on the Rye City Council. She is currently Chairman of RyeACT, member of the NYS OASAS Task Force based at SUNY Purchase on Substance Abuse on College Campuses and a Board member of the Kroc Institute for Peace at the University of Notre Dame.