Taylor Darling is a three-term assemblymember on Long Island, fighting hard on behalf of Nassau County residents to ensure they have their fair share of funding and resources from the state. From common sense legislation, to improved roads on Long Island, and everything in between, Taylor continues to seek solutions to community concerns.
Taylor operates with a spirit of excellence that began long before she stepped into Long Island’s political spotlight. Her devoted parents - Raulston and Towana Bertley - were the blueprint for strength, hard work, knowledge, focus and strategy. Raulston was a proud veteran, while Towana – who was a member of the United Federation of Teachers - devoted her life to education, teaching in the Uniondale School District.
About Taylor
Taylor operates with a spirit of excellence that began long before she stepped into Long Island’s political spotlight.
When she was 11 years old, Taylor’s family relocated from Brooklyn to Nassau County where she attended Turtle Hook Jr. High School and Uniondale High School, graduating early at the age of 16.
Taylor became a nationally-ranked chess player in her youth, thanks to her father who taught her how to play this methodical game full of life lessons. She credits the game for developing her strategic approach to problem-solving, which has served her well in every endeavor she has initiated.
When she was 11 years old, Taylor’s family relocated from Brooklyn to Nassau County where she attended Turtle Hook Jr. High School and Uniondale High School, graduating early at the age of 16. The Talented and Gifted Program is what enabled her to skip a grade in middle school, and it triggered her thirst for knowledge and penchant for an educational platform that she touts today.
After high school, Taylor immediately attended her dream school - Spelman College - in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent just three years there, once again graduating early at 19 years old. Upon graduation, Taylor entered a Clinical Psychology doctoral program in Georgia. Unfortunately, three years later, Taylor’s mother became afflicted by a terminal illness, and she returned to Nassau County to care for her. During this time, she enrolled in the Industrial- Organizational Psychology master’s degree program at Hofstra University. Her academic accomplishments are a tribute to her mother and her father whom she looked up to in every aspect of her life.
Post college, Taylor entered the high stakes world of business consulting. She achieved great success helping businesses increase efficiency, productivity and profitability, all while balancing marriage and motherhood. However, when she announced her plans to run for office, she was immediately terminated from her private sector job. Rather than focus on a wrongful termination lawsuit, she instead focused on ensuring her voice was heard – not silenced – and giving every little girl behind her a place where they can be heard too. Taylor’s goal was to re-invest in the community that invested so much into her.
She instead focused on ensuring her voice was heard – not silenced – and giving every little girl behind her a place where they can be heard too.
Fighting
For Your
Long Island.
In November 2018, Taylor was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 18th Assembly District. Since then, she has allocated funds for homeownership, assisting families in purchasing or keeping their homes. She has also allocated funds for student transportation services, addressing a transportation desert that exists on Long Island.
Her major accomplishments also include championing a high school trade program at Roosevelt High School for students to learn the construction trade, creating a pathway for future success post high school. The first such program in New York State and one of only seven in the United States, students receive a certification after they complete the program to immediately enter into the workforce for a good paying, union job. With a husband who is a CSEA (Civil Service Employees Association) member and a sister who is a NYSNA (New York State Nurses Association) member, being able to support this initiative to grow the union workforce is of paramount significance for Taylor.
Affectionately called the pothole princess, Taylor has fought for long-needed repairs to hazardous roads on Long Island and has secured state funds for major pothole repair. By being accessible to her constituents, she has resolved thousands of constituent complaints, improving the quality of life for those she serves.
