Diana Taylor (superintendent)

Diana L. Taylor
Diana Taylor at IWHC's 2009 Annual Gala
42nd Superintendent of the New York State Banking Department
In office June 10, 2003 – March 5, 2007
Governor	George Pataki
Preceded by	Elizabeth McCaul
Succeeded by	Richard H. Neiman
Personal details
Born	1955 (age 55–56) Greenwich, Connecticut
Political party	Republican
Domestic partner	Michael Bloomberg
Residence	Upper East Side, New York City
Alma mater	Dartmouth College Columbia Business School Columbia Mailman School of Public Health

Diana Taylor (born 1955) is the former New York State Superintendent of Banks. She lives with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Early life

Taylor was born in Greenwich, Connecticut to an upper-class family.^{[citation needed]} Her father was a Union Carbide biochemist and her mother a schoolteacher.^[1] She attended Milton Academy, then went on to earn an A.B. in economics from Dartmouth College, and an MBA from Columbia University, where she is also currently pursuing an M.P.H. [Master of Public Health] as well. ^[2]

Career

Immediately after graduating from Columbia, Taylor went to work for Smith Barney. Following her career at Smith Barney, Taylor worked for Keyspan Energy.

Following her career in the private sector, Taylor launched a second career in the public sector. She served for several years as the Chief Financial Officer of the Long Island Power Authority. She then moved to the staff of New York Gov. George Pataki serving as a Deputy Secretary to the Governor (this is equivalent to deputy chief of staff). She first oversaw the state's authorities for Pataki and then moved to become his chief advisor on finance and housing issues.

In 2003, Pataki nominated her as New York State Superintendent of Banks, which is a cabinet position. In this position, Taylor was the head of the New York State Banking Department and Chairwoman of the New York State Banking Board. While at the department she received praise for policing fraud in low-income communities and overhauling the department structure. She also focused on utilizing banks for economic development in low-income communities in New York State.

Taylor worked in Brooklyn's St. Vincent's Hospital^[1] in her twenties, and is pursuing an M.P.H. degree from Columbia. She has said that she would like to pursue a career in public health after she leaves state government.

FDIC Chairmanship

It was rumored that Taylor would be nominated by George W. Bush as the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), but Taylor was never offered the job. Reports said that Taylor had undergone a background check by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and had finished the White House paperwork for the position. The reports also said that Bush aides were informing U.S. Senate leaders about the nomination and that it would be announced in a few days.

As Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a second-term agenda to cut down on gun violence and the flow of illegal guns into the city, more rumors came about suggesting pressure from the National Rifle Association caused President Bush not to nominate Taylor. Following the withdrawal of her nomination, Bloomberg cancelled a scheduled appearance at a White House dinner, which would feature the Dance Theatre of Harlem. He instead attended a community meeting in the Bronx.

Taylor's only public comments on the FDIC affair were made at the January meeting of the New York State Banking Board and in an interview with the New York Times.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Taylor, a divorcee with no children, met Mayor Bloomberg at a Citizens Budget Commission event in 2000, where they were seated together. Since then the couple has been together and she acts as an unofficial first lady for the city, joining the mayor at social functions and campaigning with him. She has been frequently seen marching with him in parades citywide.

During the 2005 New York City transit strike, Taylor stayed with Bloomberg in the city's Office of Emergency Management headquarters in Brooklyn each night of the strike. During his second inauguration in 2006, Taylor occupied a front row seat with the mayor's mother and daughters.

Both have denied any intentions of marrying.

Potential 2012 Senate race/civic posts

Main article: United States Senate election in New York, 2012

In July 2010, Taylor stated that she believed she would have defeated Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand had she run for Gillibrand's U.S. Senate seat that year.^[3] However, she ultimately decided not to enter the race.^[4] Taylor then commented that she is considering running in 2012.^[5]

In her civic life, Taylor serves on non-profit and corporate boards that include the YMCA of Greater New York, ACCION, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Sotheby's, Citigroup, Brookfield Properties and her alma mater Dartmouth^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Spiers, Elizabeth (October 2011). "The First Lady of New York City". New York Observer magazine. 
2. ^ Forbes Profile: Diana L. Taylor
3. ^ Bloomberg's girlfriend Diana Taylor says she could have beaten Sen. Gillibrand, won't rule out run
4. ^ Diana Taylor turns down Senate bid
5. ^ Bloomberg's Girlfriend Courted for Senate Run as Gillibrand Feud Festers

• "The Mayor's Lady." The New York Times, 2/12/06. [1]

Civic offices
Preceded by Elizabeth McCaul	Superintendent of the New York State Banking Department 2003-2007	Succeeded by Richard H. Neiman

Persondata
Name	Taylor, Diana
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1955
Place of birth	Greenwich, Connecticut
Date of death
Place of death