Elijah Reichlin-Melnick
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Elijah Reichlin-Melnick
| image = File:Elijah Reichlin-Melnick Speaking at Pride Day 2021.png
| party = Democrat
| website = {{unbulleted list | {{url|https://www.elijahforsenate.com/|Campaign website}} | {{url| https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/elijah-reichlin-melnick|Official website}} }}
| signature =
| profession =
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| relations =
| partner =
| spouse =
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| birth_place = Nyack, New York, U.S.
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|06|02|mf=y}}
| succeeded = Bill Weber
| preceded = David Carlucci
| prior_term =
| term_start = January 1, 2021
| district = 38th
| state_senate = New York State
| education = {{unbulleted list | Cornell University (BA) | Rutgers University (MCRP) }}
| term_end = January 1, 2023
}}
Elijah Reichlin-Melnick is a former politician who served one-term as a member of the New York State Senate for the 38th district. He succeeded David Carlucci and was defeated by Bill Weber (New York politician) in 2022 and again in 2024.
Early life and education
Reichlin-Melnick was born and raised in Nyack, New York. He attended Nyack High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Cornell University in 2006. He later earned a master's degree in city and regional planning, with a concentration in housing and real estate, from Rutgers University in 2015.
Career
= Early career =
After receiving his bachelor's degree, he spent two years as an elementary school teacher at Dwight Elementary School in New Haven, Connecticut. He later served on the Nyack Village Planning Board and was elected vice president of the Rockland County Young Democrats and chairman of the Nyack Democratic Committee. He was an active member of the Nyack NAACP and the Nyack Tree Committee. After leaving Dwight Elementary School, Reichlin-Melnick began working as a constituent service specialist and district representative for Congressman Eliot Engel and Congresswoman Nita Lowey until 2013. After working in Congress, Reichlin-Melnick completed his master's degree, he worked as the executive assistant for Orangetown, New York Town Supervisor Andy Stewart. He later worked as the legislative director for New York State Senator James Skoufis.{{Cite web|title=State Senate Closing Arguments: Elijah Reichlin-Melnick|url=https://nyacknewsandviews.com/2020/10/state-senate-closing-arguments-elijah-reichlin-melnick/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=Nyack News and Views|language=en-US}}
= Nyack Village Board =
In April 2017, Reichlin-Melnick was appointed to the Nyack Village Board to fill a vacancy left by Doug Foster. On November 7, 2017, Reichlin-Melnick was elected to a two-year term on the Village Board and was subsequently re-elected on November 3, 2019.
= New York State Senate =
On December 17, 2019, Reichlin-Melnick announced his candidacy for district 38 in the New York State Senate.{{Cite web|last=Cutler|first=Nancy|title=Nyack Trustee Elijah Reichlin-Melnick announces bid for Carlucci's SD 38 seat|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/17/elijah-reichlin-melnick-nyack-trustee-runs-new-york-state-senate-district-38/2673420001/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} On June 23, 2020, Reichlin-Melnick defeated Clarkstown Town Clerk Justin Sweet and Spring Valley Trustee Eudson Francois in the Democratic primary election.{{Cite web|last=Lieberman|first=Steve|title=State Senate: Reichlin-Melnick wins primary as Sweet concedes after most absentees are counted|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/rockland/2020/07/10/reichlin-melnick-wins-state-senate-primary-justin-sweet-concedes/5413421002/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} On November 3, 2020, he defeated Republican nominee Bill Weber.{{Cite web|last=Lieberman|first=Steve|title=Elections Update: Reichlin-Melnick wins Senate seat over Weber; Lawler unseats Jaffee|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/18/reichlin-melnick-senate-lawler-assembly-race-election-2020/6330864002/|access-date=2021-01-02|website=The Journal News|language=en-US}} In 2022, Reichlin-Melnick was defeated by Weber in a rematch.{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2022 |title=State Senate: Weber wins District 38, Harckham takes District 40 |url=https://westchester.news12.com/state-senate-weber-wins-district-38-arena-ahead-in-district-40 |access-date=2023-02-27 |website=News 12 - Westchester}} Reichlin-Melnick and Weber faced off for a third time in 2024, and on November 5, 2024, Weber again defeated Reichlin-Melnick by nearly triple the margin of his 2022 victory.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2024 |title=Republican Bill Weber defeats Elijah Reichlin-Melnick in battle for NY Senate seat
|url=https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/ny-election-results-senate-assembly-elijah-reichlin-melnick-bill-weber-pete-harckham-gina-arena/76051156007/ |website=LOHUD}}
Personal life
Reichlin-Melnick's brother, Aaron, is an immigration policy expert and senior fellow at the American Immigration Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2023/09/republicans-parrot-eric-adams-homeland-security-committee-hearing-migrants/390478/|title=Republicans parrot Eric Adams at Homeland Security Committee hearing on migrants|last=Donaldson|first=Sahalie|date=September 20, 2023|access-date=December 11, 2024|website=City & State}}
References
{{New York State Senate}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reichlin-Melnick, Elijah}}
Category:Cornell University alumni
Category:Rutgers University alumni
Category:Nyack High School alumni
Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature