John G. Richardson
Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development
In office
January 2007 – November 2009
Preceded byJack Cashman
Succeeded byThaxter Trafton
97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
In office
December 2004 – December 2006
Preceded byPatrick Colwell
Succeeded byGlenn Cummings
Maine House Majority Leader
In office
December 2002 – December 2004
Preceded byPatrick Colwell
Succeeded byGlenn Cummings
Member of the Maine House of Representatives
from the 49th & 63rd district
In office
December 1998 – December 2006
Preceded byReginald G. Pinkham
Succeeded byCharles R. Priest
Personal details
Born(1957-06-29)June 29, 1957
Washington, D.C., US
DiedJune 16, 2020(2020-06-16) (aged 62)
Brunswick, Maine, US
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDr. Stephanie Grohs
Children3
Alma materCreighton University School of Law, University of Maryland
ProfessionLawyer
WebsiteJohn Richardson for Maine

John G. Richardson (June 29, 1957 – June 16, 2020) was an American politician and consultant from Maine. A Democrat, he served as Maine's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.[1] Richardson unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Maine in 2010. In February 2018, the Portland Press Herald reported that Richardson was involved in a potential conflict of interest case regarding the University of Maine and a $100 million redevelopment plan for the nearby Old Town mill.[2] On February 9, 2018, the Portland Press Herald reported that there weren't any conflict of interest issues involving UMaine or Richardson.

Background

Richardson was born in Washington, D.C. He received his bachelor's degree from University of Maryland in 1983 and his Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University School of Law in 1987. He practiced law in Brunswick, Maine.[3]

Political career

In 2002, Richardson was elected House Majority Leader in the 121st Legislature, where he was the political spokesperson for the House Democratic caucus.

Richardson was elected the 97th Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2005. As Speaker, he successfully led efforts eliminate a $1 billion budget deficit and to balance the budget, brokered legislation to cut taxes, and reformed the Business Equipment Tax Reimbursement law.[4]

Richardson also sponsored the legislation which created the Mid Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority(MRRA) and served on its planning and implementing committees.[5]

In January 2007, he was appointed Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, a position that he held until November 2009. He also served as a board member on the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).

Committee assignments

  • Business and Economic Development (Chair)[6]
  • Banking and Insurance [7]
  • Rules and Business of the House (Ex Officio)[8][9]
Richardson at the University of Maine.

2010 gubernatorial bid and public appearances

On April 26, 2010, just six weeks prior to the Democratic primary, Richardson ended his run for governor. He was denied failed public financing after the state ethics commission discovered hundreds of falsified or otherwise improperly collected $5 qualifying contributions which were required of candidates to obtain public funding.[10][11]

Richardson was a political commentator on WCSH, Southern Maine' NBC affiliate. He also gave the political rebuttal to Governor Paul LePage's weekly radio address on WCME.[12]

Death

Richardson died on June 16, 2020, at the age of 62, from an apparent heart attack.[13][14]

Election history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes  % Opponent Party Votes  %
1998 State Representative District 49 General[15] John Richardson Democratic 1,351 51.1 Reginald G. Pinkham Republican 1,294 48.9
2000 State Representative District 49 General[16] John Richardson Democratic 2,399 65.6 William J. Donovan Republican 1,259 34.4
2002 State Representative District 49 General[17] John Richardson Democratic 1,884 63.3 Ronald G. Dumont Republican 1,094 36.7
2004 State Representative District 63 General[18] John Richardson Democratic 2,920 61.5 Amy L. Mckenna Republican 1,827 38.5

References

  1. ↑ "Maine House of Representatives: Past Leadership." Maine.gov. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/history/leaders.htm
  2. ↑ Turkel, Tux (February 4, 2018). "Secret recordings point to improper influence by top UMaine official in lucrative power contract". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. ↑ Votesmart.org.-John G. Richardson
  4. ↑ "http://maineinsights.com/john-g-richardson
  5. ↑ "Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA)". Archived from the original on 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
  6. ↑ "Maine House of Representatives: John Richardson." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/history/120th/120bios/richjg.htm>.
  7. ↑ "Maine House of Representatives: John G. Richardson." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/history/119th/119bios/richjg.htm>.
  8. ↑ "Maine House of Representatives: John Richardson." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/history/121st/121bios/richjg.htm>.
  9. ↑ "Maine House of Representatives: John Richardson." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/legis/house/history/122nd/122bios/richjg.htm>.
  10. ↑ Miller, Kevin (April 26, 2010). "Richardson ends bid for Blaine House". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Wickenheiser, Matt (27 April 2010). "Richardson quits Maine governor's raceover finance finding". Press Herald.
  12. ↑ "WCME |". Radio9wcme.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  13. ↑ "Former Maine House speaker John Richardson dies at age 62". 16 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "Former Speaker of the Maine House and NEWS CENTER Maine Contributor John Richardson dies at 62". 16 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "General Election Tabulations - November 3, 1998 - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)." Maine.gov. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <"General Election Tabulations - November 3, 1998 - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2010-02-05.>.
  16. ↑ "Maine General Election, November 7, 2000 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)." Maine.gov. Web. 04 Feb. 2010. <"Maine General Election, November 7, 2000 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2010-02-05.>.
  17. ↑ "General Election, November 5, 2002 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <"General Election, November 5, 2002 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)". Archived from the original on 2002-12-31. Retrieved 2010-02-05.>.
  18. ↑ "General Election, November 2, 2004 - Tabulations - State Representative (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.)." Maine.gov. Web. 05 Feb. 2010. <http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2004n/sr.htm Archived 2010-03-20 at the Wayback Machine>.
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