John G. Richardson

John G. Richardson
Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development
In office January 2007 – November 2009
Preceded by	Jack Cashman
Succeeded by	Thaxter Trafton
97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
In office December 2004 – December 2006
Preceded by	Patrick Colwell
Succeeded by	Glenn Cummings
Maine House Majority Leader
In office December 2002 – December 2004
Preceded by	Patrick Colwell
Succeeded by	Glenn Cummings
Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 49th & 63rd district
In office December 1998 – December 2006
Preceded by	Reginald G. Pinkham
Succeeded by	Charles R. Priest
Personal details
Born	(1957-06-29) June 29, 1957 Washington, DC
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Dr. Stephanie Grohs
Children	John A., Glenn, Madeline
Residence	Brunswick, Maine
Alma mater	Creighton University School of Law, University of Maryland
Website	John Richardson for Maine

John G. Richardson is a Maine politician. A Democrat, Richardson sought the Democratic Nomination for Governor of Maine in 2010. He formerly served as Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.

In the Legislature

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.

Committee assignments

• Business and Economic Development (Chair)
• Banking and Insurance
• Rules and Business of the House (Ex Officio)

Richardson at the University of Maine.

2010 gubernatorial bid

Main article: Maine gubernatorial election, 2010

On April 26, 2010, just 6 weeks prior to the Democratic primary, Richardson ended his run for Governor. He did not qualify for Clean Elections funding after allegations that campaign workers forged many $5 checks needed to obtain public funding.

Election History

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