Candidate Profile: Lisa Tannenbaum For Rye City Council

RYE, NY - In 2021's general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for local officials. In anticipation, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Lisa Tannenbaum is seeking election to The Rye City Council in November. The 63-year-old, who previously worked for Congressman Eliot Engel, is running as a Democrat candidate. Tannenbaum boasts over 30 years of general management and corporate marketing experience and transitioned to politics and government in 2016. She holds a BA from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from The Kellogg School, Northwestern University.

Tannenbaum has two children, ages 31 and 26, two adorable dogs and one cat.

Learn more about her on lisatannenbaum.com

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Carter:

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm running for Rye City Council to bring a new spirit of collaboration to Rye and will work with our neighboring communities and with the county, state and federal governments on behalf of all Rye residents.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issue facing Rye is flooding, how we need to reconstruct our infrastructure and manage development to deal with our changed climate. I will work with our neighboring communities and our county, state and federal governments to bring solutions to Rye; Rye cannot solve this alone.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate with legislative government experience prior to running for Rye City Council and the only candidate that is actively campaigning as a Democrat.

NOTE: This answer was edited for clarity after publication.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The current Rye City Council has made progress on some issues, but too many initiatives have been stalled or ignored. We are losing too many opportunities by not working as partners with our neighboring communities and the county, state and federal governments.We can and must do better for Rye.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Rye appropriately followed the Westchester County lead during the coronavirus pandemic. The mayor's communications to residents originally had an inappropriate tone; I spoke to the mayor and he adjusted accordingly.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The need for collaboration and cooperation with our residents, our neighboring communities and with other levels of government spans almost every challenge in Rye, from public safety to the success of our non-profit organizations. Funding is key, and our city government must use it's expertise and resources to participate in all opportunities for aid from Westchester County, New York State and the federal government.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

In my corporate life, I successfully managed lines of businesses with profit and loss statements many multiples larger than the Rye city budget. Combined with my government experience, I have the skills needed to positively contribute to the Rye City Council.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't be afraid to say "I don't know." It's better to say you don't know the answer than to provide the wrong answer.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a Democrat and running only as a Democrat in this election. A long time ago I was a Republican, then for many years an independent. Those were very different times. The differences between Democrats and Republicans today are crystal clear. I believe Joe Biden won the Presidential election. I believe in vaccines and masks. I don't believe the January 6th insurrection at a building where I used to work was a tourist visit. These facts matter when voters choose to whom they want to entrust their local government. However, when elected, I will put the interests of all Rye residents first, regardless of party. People come before politics.

Find information about absentee and early voting here: Election 2021: New Systems For Early Voting In Westchester
To find all your candidates, as well as statewide, county and local propositions, follow the links offered by the Board of Elections:

• View the 2021 General Election Candidates List.
• View the 2021 General Election State Propositions.
• View the 2021 General Election County and Local Propositions.