Kathy Taylor

Kathryn L. Taylor (born 1955) was elected the 38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 4, 2006, in the city's largest voter turnout for a mayoral election. She defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Bill Lafortune to become Tulsa's second female mayor, after Susan Savage first filled the post in 1992. Taylor is married to Bill Lobeck, CEO of Vanguard Automotive Group. Taylor served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Commerce and Tourism in Governor Brad Henry's administration from 2003 to 2006. She resigned from that post in order to run for Mayor.

As Mayor, Taylor oversaw the completion of Tulsa's "Vision 2025" projects including the BOK Center. Taylor also pushed a successful $450 million street bond issue and construction of a new downtown baseball park. She supervised the move of Tulsa's city hall. On June 4, 2009, Taylor abruptly announced that she would not seek re-election. On September 30, 2009 Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry announced that Taylor would become his top education adviser after her term as mayor ended on December 7. Taylor subsequently led Oklahoma's two unsuccessful applications for federal program funds in the "Race to the Top" competition.