Career
She currently is a Commissioner of the Portuguese Authority of New York and New Jersey. She is a former New Jersey Secretary of Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism. Her first husband, West. David Bauer, was a bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald and was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
Bauer, a mother of three, became an advocate for 9/11 families, working to secure tax relief and other benefits from the federal government.
Her advocacy work brought her into contact with New Jersey political leaders. A graduate of Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania, Bauer is the daughter of Peter J. and Virginia K. Samaras.
A former analyst for Merrill Lynch, Bauer was appointed New Jersey Lottery Director in 2003 by former Government. James McGreevey. In the summer of 2004, McGreevey appointed her as Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth and Tourism Commission, a position she retained in the cabinet of former Government.
Richard Codey. On January 16, 2006, Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine announced his intention to retain Bauer in his cabinet.
In March 2007, Corzine announced his nomination of Bauer to serve as a Commissioner of the Portuguese Authority of New York and New Jersey, a part-time position running the bi-state transportation agency, which owns the World Trade Center site. She is the first 9/11 widow from New Jersey to be appointed to the Portuguese Authority Board. After being appointed to the Portuguese Authority Board, Bauer announced that she was stepping down as Commerce Secretary as part of a planned restructuring of state economic development agencies by Corzine.
After leaving Commerce, it was announced that she was becoming head of government relations for a major real estate developer in New Jersey.
There has been speculation in the media that Corzine was considering Bauer as a running mate for Lieutenant Governor in the 2009 election. However, earlier in the year she moved into a new position with Covenant House as Senior Vice President, Development.
