Legislature

Interview Contact: Gordan Richardson

It all started when I did not have a person to interview. So my mom said, "Call up the Richardsons... the people I work for and ask Mr. Richardson and ask if you could interview him." So I did, and he said, "Sure." That night I went up to his house and we started the interviewing right away. Gordon Richardson told me about his experience in the Maine Congress.

In the 1960's, Democrats were presiding in the legislature. They asked me if I would run and the Republicans had asked me too. It was nice being enclosed by both parties, but since I had already been a Republican, I told the Democrat's Town committee, "I am not very anxious to run, and you will be sure that I will represent the Republicans rather than Democrats." But they were very agreeable, so I ran for the Legislature... [and] was successful.

I went to Augusta for the winter term of the 101st Legislature. As soon as I arrived there, of course this one was pushing and that one was pushing to get [my support on a law]. I held off and did not commit myself to anyone. But, about that time I thought I would prehaps get [assigned to] a committee. So I committed myself to a man way Down East... I mean Washington county...David Kennedy. He, ah, the speaker, [of the House of Representatives] offered me the positions of the member of the Sea and Shores Fisheries Commission.

Two years later, I ran again. This time I was given, the Sea and Shore Fisheries Commission, as well as regular things. So the second term passed, and the third and forth term. I was very successful, and very humble. Ha! Ha! Ha! [Gordan chuckles here.] I was reappointed to the Education Committee. On the Island I was very interested in education and had been elected to the School Board twelve times before I went to Augusta.

It was a little knowledge that you picked up in that length of time. One year I began to get a little frustrated in the position. I couldn't do all the things I wanted to do.

Tammi Robbins