Preceded by Jack Cashman Party Democratic Party Preceded by Reginald G. Pinkham Spouse Stephanie Grohs | Role Politician Preceded by Patrick Colwell Name John Richardson | |
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Children John A., Glenn, Madeline Education University of Maryland, College Park, Creighton University School of Law | ||
John G. Richardson (born June 29, 1957) is a Maine politician. A Democrat, John Richardson formerly served as Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. Richardson sought the Democratic Nomination for Governor of Maine in 2010.
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In the Legislature and DECD
In 1998, Richardson beat an incumbent Republican to win election to the Maine House of Representatives.
As a freshman on the Banking and Insurance Committee, he led the effort to enact a Patient Bill of Rights. The following term, as chair of the Business and Economic Development Committee, he sponsored and wrote the economic development bond bill that passed on the June 2002 ballot. He also led the effort to pass a $12 million affordable housing bond to stimulate affordable housing in Southern and Mid-coast Maine.
In 2002, John 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 to help small businesses and create jobs. He earned a reputation as a consensus builder - helping to end a long stretch of partisan budget battles with bipartisan agreement on a supplemental spending plan. But he also built and broadened his party's influence, leaving the House with a solid Democratic majority after it came within a couple votes of falling to the opposition.
John also sponsored the legislation which created the Mid Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority(MRRA) and served on its planning and implementing committees.
In January 2007, he was appointed Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, a position that he held until November 2009. As Commissioner he helped businesses grow, revitalized Maine's downtowns expanding the creative economy, brought collations together and identified areas of growth for Maine. He also served as a board member on the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME).
Before being elected he served the public as a fireman.
Committee assignments
2010 gubernatorial bid and current public appearances
On April 26, 2010, just 6 weeks prior to the Democratic primary, Richardson ended his run for Governor.
Currently John is a political commentator on the Maine NBC affiliate - WCSH and gives the political rebuttal to Governor Paul LePage’s weekly radio address on WCME. In 2016 he was the Cumberland County Chair of the Bernie Sanders campaign.