Randy Richardville
Encyclopedia
Randy Richardville is a Michigan
Republican, who 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
.
— in 1977. He wed Sarah Elford, to whom he is still married, in 1979. 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 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 currently a 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.
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 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, 2014.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
Republican, who is the current state senator for the 17th District, which consists of all of Monroe
Monroe County, Michigan
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2010 population is 152,021. The largest city and county seat is Monroe. The U.S. Census Bureau defines all of Monroe County as conterminous with the Monroe Metropolitan Area...
, southern Washtenaw
Washtenaw County, Michigan
Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 344,791. Its county seat is Ann Arbor. The United States Office of Management and Budget defines the county as part of the Detroit–Warren–Flint Combined Statistical Area...
, and eastern Jackson
Jackson County, Michigan
As of the census of 2000, there were 158,422 people, 58,168 households, and 40,833 families residing in the county. The population density was 224 people per square mile . There were 62,906 housing units at an average density of 89/sq mi...
counties. He took office on January 1, 2007. Previously, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
for the 56th District from 1998 to 2004. This district covered the area of northeast Monroe County, including the city of Monroe
Monroe, Michigan
Monroe is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 20,733 at the 2010 census. It is the largest city and county seat of Monroe County. The city is bordered on the south by Monroe Charter Township, but both are politically independent. The city is located approximately 14 miles ...
.
Biography
Richardville was born in Monroe, Michigan. He graduated from Monroe Catholic Central High School— known today as St. Mary Catholic CentralSt. Mary Catholic Central
St. Mary Catholic Central High School, known colloquially as SMCC, is a private, coeducational Catholic senior high school located at 108 West Elm Avenue in Monroe, Michigan. The school is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. The school itself is listed as a contributing property...
— in 1977. He wed Sarah Elford, to whom he is still married, in 1979. He received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Albion College
Albion College
Albion College is a private liberal arts college located in Albion, Michigan. Related to the United Methodist Church, it was founded in 1835 and was the first private college in Michigan to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. It has a student population of about 1500.The school's sports teams are...
in 1981, and he received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in management from Aquinas College
Aquinas College (Michigan)
Aquinas College is a small Catholic college that aims to provide a liberal arts education located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Aquinas is considered one of the best liberal arts colleges in the Midwest region by U.S. News and World Report ....
in 1989.
Richardville has worked for several Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
and Fortune 1000
Fortune 1000
Fortune 1000 is a reference to a list maintained by the American business magazine Fortune. The list is of the 1000 largest American companies, ranked on revenues alone...
companies, including La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy Incorporated is a furniture manufacturer based in Monroe, Michigan, USA which makes home furniture, including upholstered recliners, sofas, stationary chairs, and sleeper sofas...
, Herman Miller
Herman Miller (office equipment)
Herman Miller, Inc., based in Zeeland, Michigan, is a major American manufacturer of office furniture and equipment, as well as furniture for the home. It is notable as one of the first companies to produce modern furniture and, under the guidance of Design Director George Nelson, is likely the...
, 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
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
, American Legislative Exchange Council
American Legislative Exchange Council
The American Legislative Exchange Council is a politically conservative 501 non-profit Policy Organization, consisting of both state legislators and members of the private sector. ALEC's mission statement describes the organization's purpose as the advancement of free-market principles, limited...
, Habitat for Humanity, a board member of the Monroe YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, Monroe Rotary Club, former board member for the Karmanos Cancer Institution, and many more. He is also a member of the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
and Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people. It currently has approximately 780,000 members, mostly in the United States and Canada.-Introduction:Ducks Unlimited was...
. He is currently a 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 WhipWhip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
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
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for the Republican Party nomination, defeating Milan
Milan, Michigan
Milan is a city in Monroe and Washtenaw counties in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,775 at the 2000 census. About 60% of the city's area and 75% of its residents are located on the Washtenaw County side adjacent to York Township in Washtenaw County; while 40% percent of the...
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
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
— 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 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, 2014.
| Year | Election | Defeated | Election results |
| 1998 | House Michigan State House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in... |
Larry Rufledge (D) | 51.55–48.45% |
| 2000 | House Michigan State House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in... |
Herb Kehrl (D) | 50.42–47.52% |
| 2002 | House Michigan State House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in... |
Joshua Sacks (D) | 65.84–34.16% |
| 2006 | Senate | Bob Shockman (D) | 55.33–44.67% |
| 2010 | Senate | John Spencer (D) | 61.8–39.2% |