Randy Richardville

Randy Richardville (born August 15, 1959 in Monroe, Michigan) is a Michigan Republican, who is the Majority Leader of the Michigan State Senate. He is the current state senator for the 17th District, which consists of all of Monroe, southern Washtenaw, and eastern Jackson counties. He took office on January 1, 2007. Previously, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives for the 56th District from 1998 to 2004. This district covered the area of northeast Monroe County, including the city of Monroe.

Biography

Richardville was born in Monroe, Michigan. He graduated from Monroe Catholic Central High School— known today as St. Mary Catholic Central— in 1977. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Albion College in 1981, and he received his master's degree in management from Aquinas College in 1989.

Richardville has worked for several Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies, including La-Z-Boy, Herman Miller, and North Star Steel. He has involved himself extensively in local and state politics throughout his career. These include working for the WTWR-FM radio station, United Way of Monroe County, the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, American Legislative Exchange Council, Habitat for Humanity, a former board member of the Monroe YMCA, Monroe Rotary Club, former board member for the Karmanos Cancer Institution, and many more. He is also a member of the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees for Monroe Public Schools and the Economic Development Director in southeast Michigan. He has received numerous awards for his work.

Political career

He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998 and served three two-year terms. As soon as he entered into office, he introduced a bill to decrease the state income tax rate, and this bill was signed into law in 1999. He soon became the Assistant Whip of the House. In his second term, he was elevated to Assistant Majority Floor Leader. In his final term, he became the Majority Floor Leader, which is the second highest-ranking member of the House, consisting of 110 representatives from throughout the state. He could not seek re-election for state representative for a fourth term in 2004, as Michigan limits its state representatives to three terms.

Richardville ran for state senator for the 17th District of Michigan in the 2006 election. The previous district Senator, Beverly S. Hammerstrom, was ineligible for the 2006 ballot, as she had already served two full terms— the maximum number for senators. His main focus throughout his senatorial campaign, as it has been throughout his political career, was increasing jobs and the economy, health care and benefits for senior citizens, and education. On August 8, Richardville won the district's primary election for the Republican Party nomination, defeating Milan mayor Owen Diaz. In the general election, he defeated Democratic opponent Bob Shockman. Upon winning the election, he vowed to uphold his campaign promises to address the state's growing economic crisis. He has made it a priority to work with his colleagues— both Republicans and Democrats— to assist the state of Michigan in overcoming its current economic stagnation. Richardville was reelected November 2, 2010 in which he will serve his 2nd and final term as State Senator, and Senate Majority Leader. (Due to Term Limits) His term as senator will last from January 1, 2007 to January 1, 2015.

References

• 2006 election results
• Monroe County election results, 1998–2004
• 2010 Election Results
• Senate Majority Leader