Priscilla A. Taylor, former Commissioner and Mayor of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, is a native Floridian, born and raised in Fort Pierce. She currently resides in West Palm Beach where she was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2004 and re-elected twice as the District 84 representative. She brought to the House more than 25 years of business experience in the insurance industry.

Commissioner Taylor served as Democratic Whip for the 2004-2006 term and Speaker Pro Tem designee for the 2008-2010 terms. Prior to being elected to the Florida House, Commissioner Taylor was a twice-elected member of the Port of Palm Beach District Commission. During her tenure, she served as chairwoman in both 2001 and 2003.

Commissioner Taylor received her undergraduate degree from Barry University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She has received numerous business and civic awards recognizing her outstanding service to the community. Commissioner Taylor’s accolades include being named Business Woman of the Year by the Gold Coast Business and Professional Women’s Organization. She received the Sojourner Truth Award for Community Service, the Phillip Morris Crystal Award for Business Accomplishments, and the Glass Ceiling Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Commissioner Taylor was the recipient of the Take Flight Leadership Award for unwavering commitment, support and dedication to displaced and at-risk veterans and their families, named Palm Beach Atlantic University’s 2012 Distinguished Alumnae, named American Jewish Committee Palm Beach County – A Woman of Valor – December 2009, one of the 25 most influential women of South Florida by Success magazine and one of the 50 most powerful and influential black professionals in South Florida. She was honored by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers for her work to improve the administration of justice by sponsoring legislation to end discrimination and restore civil rights, and is the recipient of the 2007 A. Philip Randolph Institute Distinguished Legislative Service Award. Commissioner Taylor is also a graduate of the Policy Institute with the designation of Flemmings Fellow.

As an elected official, Commissioner Taylor represented the state of Florida at the 2005 National Summit on Hurricane Insurance in San Francisco, California. She has also served on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council, the Palm Beach County Overall Economic Development Committee, the National Association of Foreign Trade Zones, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. While on the Port of Palm Beach Commission, she served on the Executive Committee for Discover Palm Beach County. She was recently appointed to serve on the International Economic Development Task Force of the National Association of Counties (NACO) for the 2014-2015 term.

As a state lawmaker, Commissioner Taylor served the people of Florida as the ranking Democratic member of the House Committee on the Insurance and Business and Financial Affairs Policy Committee. She also served on the Roads, Bridges & Ports Policy Committee, the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriation Committee, the Policy Council and General Government Policy Council, the Full Appropriations Council on General Government and Health Care, and the Select Policy Council of Strategic & Economic Planning. In March 2007, Commissioner Taylor was named to the National Foundation for Women Legislators International Committee to help shape critical international policy issues and promote global cooperation.

Commissioner Taylor recognizes the civic and social responsibility of being a minority professional and the importance of being active within the community. She was co-founder of the Greater Palm Beaches Business and Professional Women’s Club. She has served as the southeast district governor of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women, and is a graduate of Leadership America and Leadership Palm Beach County.

Commissioner Taylor’s past public service involvement includes working with the Criminal Justice Commission, Workforce Development, the Epilepsy Foundation, the Urban League of Palm Beach County Board of Directors, the Governing Board of Columbia Hospital, the YWCA Board of Directors, Executive Women, Leadership Palm Beach County, and the Palm Beach MLK Coordinating Committee. She presently serves as a member and Board member of the Kiwanis, Chairwoman of the Business Advisory Board of Palm Beach State University, International Women’s Forum and the Greater Palm Beaches Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.