John G. Richardson

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 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.

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.