Howard Mills III
Howard D. Mills III | |
|---|---|
| File:Mills hw2.jpg | |
| New York State's Insurance Superintendent | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 29, 1964 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Erin |
| Children | H. Jack & Cooper |
| Residence | New York |
Howard Mills (born May 29, 1964) was nominated by Governor George E. Pataki in December 2004 and subsequently won New York State Senate confirmation to serve as head of the New York State Insurance Department.
Since becoming New York’s chief insurance regulator, Superintendent Mills has signed landmark settlement agreements with the world’s largest insurer as well as three prominent U.S. insurance brokers, secured unprecedented auto rate premium reductions that saved New York’s drivers half a billion dollars, and was instrumental in winning an extension of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) through the end of 2007. Within the Insurance Department itself, the Superintendent created this year a Corporate Practices Unit within the agency’s Office of General Counsel.
Superintendent Mills, a former state legislator, was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1998 and was twice re-elected. While in the State Legislature, then-Assemblyman Mills served as the Deputy Minority Leader, sat on the Banking, Housing, Insurance and Ways and Means Committees, and was a member of the Armed Forces Legislative Caucus. The Republican nominee for the United States Senate in 2004, Assemblyman Mills did not seek re-election that year to the State Assembly.
During his six years as a state legislator, Superintendent Mills was an outspoken advocate for reform in Albany and sharply critical of the State Legislature’s budget adoption process while advocating sweeping budgetary and legislative reforms. Superintendent Mills was also known for championing tougher criminal justice laws, debt reduction, spending restraint and agricultural causes.
The Superintendent was first elected to public office in 1989, winning the first of two terms as a Councilman in the Town of Wallkill. Mills was elected Wallkill Town Supervisor in 1993 and re-elected to that position in 1995 and 1997. As Supervisor, Mills cut taxes, improved the Town’s bond rating, reduced the size of government and completed many public works projects, including a landfill closure, three major bridge replacements and a town-wide road improvement program. During his administration, Mills received the Distinguished Budget Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
Superintendent Mills is a Major in the New York Guard, 56th Brigade. In the wake of September 11, 2001, then-Assemblyman Mills was briefly called to active duty and later awarded the New York State Defense of Liberty Medal.
Prior to beginning his public service career, Mills served as the Director of Development at Mount Saint Mary College, Newburgh, NY, where he also was an adjunct instructor of geography. He has worked as a business consultant to the telecommunications industry and was the business development and public relations officer for the Myles Financial Services Group in Florida, NY.
Superintendent Mills has been active in many civic organizations, having served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Orange County United Way, the New York State United Way, and the Mid-Hudson Alzheimer’s Association. He is the recipient of many awards for his work in the community. Mr. Mills is the only two-time recipient of the Orange County Partnership "Most Valuable Partner" Economic Development Award, having won this recognition in both 1997 and 2002.
In addition, the Metropolitan Foundation named Superintendent Mills as its 2005 ‘Public Servant of the Year’ and the State of Israel Bonds also saluted New York’s chief insurance regulator last year with its Neil Levin Award.
New York State's Insurance Superintendent received his bachelor’s degree from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY, spending part of his undergraduate years as a visiting student of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at Mansfield College, Oxford University. He subsequently earned a master’s degree in government and public affairs at American University in Washington, DC. Superintendent Mills and his wife, Erin, reside with their sons, H. Jack and Cooper, in the Town of Hamptonburgh in Orange County, New York.