Diana Taylor (superintendent)

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

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 FDIC Chairmanship 4 Personal life 5 See also

[edit] Early life

Taylor was born in Greenwich, Connecticut to a wealthy, banking family. She attended prestigious schools such as Milton Academy and went on to Dartmouth College and Columbia Business School.

[edit] 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 is the head of the New York State Banking Department and Chairwoman of the New York State Banking Board. While at the department she has received praise for policing fraud in low-income communities and overhauling the department structure. She has also focused on utilizing banks for economic development in low-income communities in New York State.

Taylor, who worked at a Brooklyn hospital in her twenties, is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health from Columbia. She has said that she would like to pursue a career in public health after she leaves state government.

[edit] FDIC Chairmanship

Recent rumors swirled that Taylor would be nominated by George W. Bush as the Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of the FDIC, but Taylor was never offered the job. Reports said that Taylor had undergone a background check by the 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 to the New York Times.

[edit] Personal life

Taylor, a divorcee with no children, met Mayor Bloomberg at a Citizens Budget Commission event, where they were seated together. Since the couple has been together she has acted 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.

[edit] See also

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