Office: Jefferson County Commission, District 1

Party: Democratic

Age: 60

Residence: Midfield

Political experience: Mayor of Midfield, 2004-present (fourth consecutive term); ran for Jefferson County Commission, District 2, in 2008.

Professional experience: President, CEO and morning talk show host, WJLD AM1400/FM104.1/WIXI AM 1360 (Richardson Broadcasting Corp.), 1987-present;system technology coordinator, Bessemer City Schools, February 2005-present; teacher, Bessemer City Schools, 1995-2005; electronics instructor, ITT Technical Institute, 1998-1999; general manager, American Trust Broadcasting Corp., 1985-1987; contract broadcast engineer, since 1984; U.S. Army Reserves, 348^thEngineer Group, 1976-1982; weekend camera operator/TV production, WAPI-TV (Channel 13), 1977-1982; chief broadcast engineer and radio announcer, WZZK-FM (Johnston Broadcasting Corp.), 1978-1984.                  

Civic experience: Member, Faith Chapel Christian Church;chairman, Jefferson County Emergency Management Authority; president, board of directors, JCCEO; president, The Conference of Black Mayors National Organization; president, Midfield Voters League; past president (two terms), Jefferson County Mayors Association; past vice president, Jefferson County Mayors Association; past president, Midfield Neighborhood Association; past chairman, advisory board of broadcasting program, Jefferson State Community College; commissioner, Red Mountain Park Commission; member, Regional Planning Commission; member, policy committee of Metropolitan Planning Organization; member, West Jefferson Mayors Alliance.

Education: Bachelor’s in political science, University of Alabama at Birmingham; associate’s, Jefferson State Community College. Master’s, Alabama A&M University, May 2001; bachelor’s, Faulkner University; bachelor’s, Excelsior College, Albany, NY, December 2007; associate’s, Jefferson State Community College, February 1984; associate’s, Jefferson State Community College, February 1984.

Main issues: Richardson pledged, if elected, to protect persons on fixed income. He says he is in favor of fair and equitable distribution of county resources and bringing good-paying jobs.

Top contributors: None reported.

Campaign: votegary2018.com