Diana Rauner

Diana Rauner
First Lady of Illinois
Assumed office
January 12, 2015
Preceded by Patricia Blagojevich
Personal details
Born Diana Elizabeth Mendley
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Lewis Ingall (1989–1991)[1]
Bruce Rauner (current)[1]
Children 3 (with Rauner)
3 stepchildren[1]
Residence Executive Mansion
Religion Reform Judaism[1]

Diana Mendley Rauner is the wife of Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner. She has been serving as First Lady of Illinois since January 12, 2015.[2] Prior to being known as the First Lady, she was the "face and voice for the Ounce of Prevention Fund" which is a non-profit in Chicago.[1]

Biography

Rauner was born and raised in New York City, where she was the youngest of three children in a Reform Jewish home.[1] She attended Yale University, where she was also a champion fencer.[3] She received her MBA from Stanford University, and her PhD in development psychology from the University of Chicago.

Rauner is a Democrat, but in 2014 when her husband Bruce Rauner, a Republican, became the Republican nominee for governor of Illinois in the Illinois gubernatorial election, 2014, Rauner appeared in a TV ad for her husband saying "I'm a lifelong Democrat, but enough is enough and the Democratic politicians in Springfield have got to be controlled and I know that is what my husband will do as governor."[4]

On July 18, 2016, Rauner announced a $15 million renovation project for the Illinois Executive Mansion, with the funding being raised privately.[5][6] The work is planned to be completed by the Illinois bicentennial in 2018.[5]

She serves as president of the Ounce of Prevention Fund, an early-learning advocacy organization.[7] In June 2016, The Ounce of Prevention joined a lawsuit fund with other social organizations against her husband, the governor, and various state agencies; the lawsuit demanded payment for services rendered by the agencies many of which had not received payment for over a year.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Manchir, Michelle (December 27, 2014). "Diana Rauner, Illinois' Next First Lady, To Stay Focused on Early Education". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  2. "First lady Diana Rauner focuses on her husband, IL children". WLS-TV. February 17, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  3. Merrion, Paul (April 21, 2014). "The Good Wife's Dilemma". Crain's Chicago Business. 37 (16). Retrieved October 9, 2015. (subscription required (help)).
  4. Lachman, Samantha (April 7, 2014). "Bruce Rauner's Wife Says She's A Democrat, But Mostly Gives To GOP Candidates". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Kamin, Blair (July 18, 2016). "Illinois' First Lady Unveils $15 Million Plan to Renovate Crumbling Executive Mansion". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  6. "Private Funds to Cover Executive Mansion Repairs". Rock River Times. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  7. New York Times: "City to Add Pre-K Efforts in Poor Areas Next Year" By AL BAKER September 24, 2012
  8. New York Times: "Illinois: Governor’s Wife Runs Fund Suing Him Over Budget" June 8, 2016
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