Lianne Merchant Will Run For New Rochelle City Council Seat

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A familiar civic leader has thrown her hat into the ring for New Rochelle City Council.

Lianne Merchant has announced her candidacy for the New Rochelle City Council District 3 seat. A resident of New Rochelle’s District 3 for over 34 years, Merchant has a long track record of public service. She was elected to the New Rochelle Public Library Board for two terms followed by two terms on the New Rochelle Board of Education, and served as president of each board for two years.

She is currently serving as a member of the New Rochelle Historical and Landmarks Review Board and a Democratic District Leader.

Merchant said if elected as the City Council representative for District 3, her focus will be on issues of infrastructure improvements, including real estate development along North Avenue in the form of state-of-the-art buildings with affordable units that will attract new businesses and spur economic growth while providing employment opportunities for minorities; improved connections between District 3 and the downtown area; and promoting renewable energy.

"I am excited about the future of New Rochelle which relies on continuous growth to ensure opportunities for our young people to learn, live and thrive in our community and for families to have access to services such as reliable infrastructure and sustainable environments," Merchant said, announcing her bid. "These opportunities are possible and essential; it begins with knowledgeable and experienced leadership. As your City Council representative I will listen to the hopes and dreams for our district, prioritize our community's needs, and work diligently to bring access to affordable housing to New Rochelle to create a community and an economic future in which we can all participate."

Merchant also has had a career in real estate and real estate finance working for companies that include General Electric, iStar Financial and Park Hill, and as the principal of the capital firm, Cortlandt Partners.

Merchant and her husband Greg have two sons, Julian and Marcel. She graduated from Brown University and received her MBA in Finance and Real Estate Finance from Columbia University.