Clif Richardson

Clifton Russell Richardson (born May 30, 1944), known as Clif Richardson, is a retired businessman from Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, and a Republican former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from District 65 in East Baton Rouge Parish.^[1] Prior to his legislative service, Richardson was a justice of the peace from 1991 to 2007.^[2]

Richardson was elected in the nonpartisan blanket primary on October 20, 2007, in a two-candidate Republican race for the seat vacated by the term-limited Donald Ray Kennard, a Democrat-turned Republican from Baton Rouge. He defeated Ed Clarke of Central in East Baton Rouge Parish, who runs a financial services company. The election results were not close, as Richardson prevailed, 8,610 votes (67 percent) to Clarke's 4,193 (33 percent).^[3]

Richardson served on three House committees: (1) Civil Law and Procedure, (2) Education, (3) Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.^[4]

At the close of the 2010 legislative session, Richardson questioned the economic, environmental, and personal impact of the proposed Greater Baton Rouge Loop on the communities of East Baton Rouge Parish. He supported Governor Bobby Jindal's veto of $5 million for planning and initial construction of the loop. Jindal said that he was vetoing the loop because the state "has scarce capital outlay and general fund dollars available . . . It is therefore important that major projects such as this have the widest support possible and the consensus of the legislative delegation in the area. That consensus has not thus far been achieved. Without the consensus of the public and the legislative delegation, the success of the project is in question. It would therefore be premature to fund the planning of such a large and controversial project until a consensus can be achieved."^[5]

A native of Independence, a town in Tangipahoa Parish near Hammond, Louisiana, Richardson graduated in 1961 from Independence High School. He and his wife, the former Sylvia Carpenter (born January 16, 1945), reside in Greenwell Springs, where he owned Rebel Electric Company. They have a son, Mark Russell Richardson (born ca. 1969).^[4] Richardson is a veteran of the United States Navy. Richardson is a Baptist.^[2]

Richardson announced in November 2012 that because he is a cancer patient he would vacate his House seat effective January 2, 2013.^[6]

A special election to choose a successor for the nearly three years remaining in Richardson's term was held on March 2, 2013.^[7] In a low-turnout contest, Republican Barry Ivey defeated another Republican, Scott Wilson, a member of the Baton Rouge Metro Council, to claim the seat that Richardson vacated. Ivey polled 2,202 votes (53 percent) to Wilson's 1,954 (47 percent).^[8] Ivey, who had never before sought office, opposes abortion in all circumstances except to save the life of the woman giving birth in a medical emergency, but Wilson supports exceptions in the case of impregnation from rape and incest as well. Ivey noted his friendship with Representative Valarie Hodges, a Republican from Denham Springs in neighboring District 64; the two were once on a church mission trip together.^[9]

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