Paul Richards (politician)

Paul Richards is a former mayor of Lynwood, California.
Paul Richards began his public service career as an intern with the Model Cities program. He got off to a rapid start after entering college at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Richards went on to earn his bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration with honors, in just one year and nine months. By age twenty-one, Richards had earned a master's degree in Public Administration with emphases in Economics and Public Policy from the University of Southern California. Richards then earned his Juris Doctorate from the U.C.L.A. School of Law where he was honored as a Chancellor Marshall of his graduating Class. Thereafter, Richards was admitted to practice law before California Federal Courts.
In 1986, Richards was elected to public office in the City of Lynwood and became California's youngest mayor. Richards has since been elected to seven consecutive as mayor/ During his tenure as an elected official, Richards worked diligently to save his community from a fiscal crisis and the devastation of the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest. He developed and initiated plans to achieve racial diversity within the city's workforce and on its boards and commissions. Richards has advanced dozens of innovative development and service programs that have not only helped Lynwood, but communities throughout Southern California.
Richards has the distinction of having served as an elected official, attorney and city administrator. After earning his degree, Richards went to work for the City of Carson, California where he was responsible for administering a multimillion-dollar crime prevention program. Richards later organized the Career Development Institute and assisted over two-thousand minority youth prepare for successful professional careers. After completing law school, Richards devoted over ten years of his life in service to the City of Compton as an executive level administrator and special legal counsel. Richards drafted critical policies such as the Developer Relations Guidelines that helped to resolve tough issues within the City and its Redevelopment Agency. In 1995, Richards left the City of Compton to pursue the implementation of new ideas that he believed would better deal with many of the challenges facing the greater community.
Richards' work in developing innovative employment strategies, economic development programs and crime reduction techniques have garnered national attention. In 1994, Richards was one of ten Mayors in America to win the prestigious United States Conference of Mayors' Outstanding Achievement Award and one of eight Mayors to earn National League of Cities Urban Enrichment Award. From the President of the United States, to nearly every city in Los Angeles County, Richards has been cited for outstanding leadership, service and achievement.
It was clear from an early age that Richards would dedicate his life to community service. From ASB President of Compton High School to Mayor of Lynwood, Richards has never stopped working for a better community. Nominated and elected by mayors and councilpersons from throughout Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Division of the League of California Cities during 1994-95. Richards was a member of the California State University Dominguez Hills, Foundation Board, Vice Chairman of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority and was Second Vice President of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.
Richards was voted out in a recall election in October 2003. On March 20, 2006, Richards was sentenced to 16 years in prison. This is the longest sentence in history for a political corruption case. He filed an appeal after being sentenced; however, the conviction was upheld.
B.A. in Economics and Business,CSUDH;
M.P.A. Economics and Public Policy, University of Southern California;
Juris Doctorate U.C.L.A/ School of Law;
Certificate in Management, Harvard University;
Certificate in Budget Analysis and Fiscal Problem Solving, University of Southern California;
Certificate of Public Program Management, Harvard University
Past President of the League of California Cities ( L.A.) and President of The Independent Cities Association.
Past Chair, National League of Cities
Foundation Board Member of California State University Dominguez Hills.
Member of the State Bar of California
Founding Member and Vice Chairman of the Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority.
Over thirty years of legislative experience at the local, state and federal levels- A respected leader and policy maker.
NAACP Civil Rights Award and NAACP Role Model of the Year Award
USC Outstanding Alumni Award and UCLA Outstanding Leadership Award
United States Conference of Mayors Outstanding Achievement Award.
Has worked to create over 100,000 New Jobs and $20 Billion + in new development.
Achievements in the City of Lynwood:
New Community and Youth Centers
Fifteen Balanced City Budgets ( Over 600 million in funds) for fifteen consecutive years
Negotiated over $40 million in special funding for city services
Over $750 million in new public and private investment funds for Lynwood
New Skate Park and Cesar Chavez picnic area
National League of Cities Urban Enrichment Award
New Lynwood High School
New park and swimming pool
New baseball and Soccer Fields and facilities
New St. Francis Medical Center
New restaurants, Hometown and Denny's
New Regional Justice Center