John G. Richardson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John G. Richardson
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| Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development | |
| In office January 2007 – November 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jack Cashman |
| Succeeded by | Thaxter Trafton |
| 97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives | |
| In office December 2004 – December 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Colwell |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Cummings |
| Maine House Majority Leader | |
| In office December 2002 – December 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Patrick Colwell |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Cummings |
| Member of the Maine House of Representatives from the 49th & 63rd district |
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| In office December 1998 – December 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Reginald G. Pinkham |
| Succeeded by | Charles R. Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1957 Washington, DC, US |
| Died | June 16, 2020 (aged 62) Brunswick, Maine, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Dr. Stephanie Grohs |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Creighton University School of Law, University of Maryland |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Website | John Richardson for Maine |
John G. Richardson (born June 29, 1957 – died June 16, 2020) was an American politician and advisor from Maine. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Richardson served as Maine's Commissioner of Economic and Community Development. He was also the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives.
In 2010, Richardson tried to become the Democratic candidate for Governor of Maine, but he was not successful. In 2018, there was a news report about a possible conflict of interest. This was related to the University of Maine and a big redevelopment plan. However, later reports confirmed there were no conflict of interest issues.
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Early Life and Education
John G. Richardson was born in Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States. He went to college and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland in 1983.
Later, he continued his education and received his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, in 1987. He earned this degree from Creighton University School of Law. After finishing his studies, he worked as a lawyer in Brunswick, Maine.
His Time in Politics
John Richardson had an important career in politics in Maine. He held several key roles that helped shape the state's laws and economy.
Leading the House of Representatives
In 2002, Richardson was chosen to be the House Majority Leader. This meant he was the main spokesperson for the Democratic members in the Maine House of Representatives. He helped guide their political messages and goals.
In 2005, he was elected as the 97th Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. This is a very powerful position. As Speaker, he worked hard to solve a huge budget problem. He helped balance the state's budget, which had a deficit of $1 billion. He also helped pass laws to lower taxes and improve rules for businesses.
Richardson also supported a law that created the Mid Coast Regional Redevelopment Authority (MRRA). This group helps with development in the Mid Coast region of Maine. He was also part of the committees that planned and put this project into action.
Working for Economic Development
In January 2007, Richardson was appointed as the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. In this role, he worked to help Maine's economy grow and create jobs. He held this position until November 2009.
He also served on the board of the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME). This organization helps Maine businesses and students get financial support.
Committee Work
During his time in the House, Richardson was part of several important committees:
- Business and Economic Development (Chair): He led this committee, which focused on improving Maine's economy.
- Banking and Insurance: He was also a member of this committee, dealing with financial matters.
- Rules and Business of the House (Ex Officio): This committee handles the rules and daily operations of the House.
Run for Governor
In 2010, John Richardson decided to run for Governor of Maine. He wanted to be the Democratic candidate in the election. However, he ended his campaign on April 26, 2010, about six weeks before the primary election. He was not able to get public funding for his campaign because of issues with some of the small donations required to qualify.
After his political roles, Richardson often appeared on TV and radio. He was a political commentator on WCSH, a local NBC news channel in Southern Maine. He also gave political responses to Governor Paul LePage's weekly radio addresses on WCME.
Later Life and Passing
John G. Richardson passed away on June 16, 2020, at the age of 62. His death was caused by an apparent heart attack.
