| John G. Richardson | |
| Order: | Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development |
| Term Start: | January 2007 |
| Term End: | November 2009 |
| Predecessor: | Jack Cashman |
| Successor: | Thaxter Trafton |
| Order2: | 97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives |
| Term Start2: | December 2004 |
| Term End2: | December 2006 |
| Predecessor2: | Patrick Colwell |
| Successor2: | Glenn Cummings |
| Order3: | Maine House Majority Leader |
| Term Start3: | December 2002 |
| Term End3: | December 2004 |
| Predecessor3: | Patrick Colwell |
| Successor3: | Glenn Cummings |
| State House4: | Maine |
| District4: | 49th & 63rd |
| Term Start4: | December 1998 |
| Term End4: | December 2006 |
| Predecessor4: | Reginald G. Pinkham |
| Successor4: | Charles R. Priest |
| Birth Date: | 29 June 1957 |
| Birth Place: | Washington, D.C., US |
| Death Place: | Brunswick, Maine, US |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Dr. Stephanie Grohs |
| Alma Mater: | Creighton University School of Law, University of Maryland |
| Profession: | Lawyer |
| Children: | 3 |
| Website: | John 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.
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]
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
See main article: Maine gubernatorial election, 2010. 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]
Richardson died on June 16, 2020, at the age of 62, from an apparent heart attack.[13] [14]
| 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 |