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'''William Blaine "Bill" Richardson''' (born November 15, 1947) served as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Governor of the State of [[New Mexico]] from 2003 to 2011. He previously has served as a Congressman, United States Ambassadors to the United Nations, and [[United States Secretary of Energy|U.S. Secretary of Energy]]. <ref> [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/03/transition.wrap/index.html Obama nominates Richardson for Cabinet.] </ref> He was nominated as Secretary of Commerce in the [[Obama Administration]] but was forced to withdraw when he became the target of a [[corruption]] investigation regarding [[Pay to play]] (forcing businessmen to make campaign contributions before they could get a contract from the state government); in 2009, federal prosecutors dropped the pending investigation against Richardson although several close aides and appointees are now serving time upon being convicted.

'''William Blaine "Bill" Richardson''' (born November 15, 1947) served as the [[Democratic Party|Democratic]] Governor of the State of [[New Mexico]] from 2003 to 2011. He previously has served as a Congressman, United States Ambassadors to the United Nations, and [[United States Secretary of Energy|U.S. Secretary of Energy]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/03/transition.wrap/index.html Obama nominates Richardson for Cabinet.]</ref> He was nominated as Secretary of Commerce in the [[Obama Administration]] but was forced to withdraw when he became the target of a [[corruption]] investigation regarding [[Pay to play]] (forcing businessmen to make campaign contributions before they could get a contract from the state government); in 2009, federal prosecutors dropped the pending investigation against Richardson although several close aides and appointees are now serving time upon being convicted.

Although Richardson has no historic connection to the [[Latino]] population of the U.S. (his mother was from Mexico), he moved to New Mexico and became governor to capitalize on his Hispanic connections and looks. His political career is independent of the Latino community.

Although Richardson has no historic connection to the [[Latino]] population of the U.S. (his mother was from Mexico), he moved to New Mexico and became governor to capitalize on his Hispanic connections and looks. His political career is independent of the Latino community.

==Accounting scandal==

==Accounting scandal==

The Albuquerque Journal reported on June 12 2005, that a New Mexico State Auditor concluded the Governor used "[[Enron]] type accounting" after his administration "circumvented the Legislature and proper accounting procedures when it opened the office in 2004 because it used money intended for the [http://www.state.nm.us/tax/ Taxation and Revenue Department] to pay for the governor's Albuquerque digs." The Governor had opened an office in Albuquerque five minutes from the airport to meet with potential out of state donors for his 2008 Presidential campaign without inconveniencing them with the two hour round trip to Sante Fe.

The Albuquerque Journal reported on June 12, 2005, that a New Mexico State Auditor concluded the Governor used "[[Enron]] type accounting" after his administration "circumvented the Legislature and proper accounting procedures when it opened the office in 2004 because it used money intended for the [http://www.state.nm.us/tax/ Taxation and Revenue Department] to pay for the governor's Albuquerque digs." The Governor had opened an office in Albuquerque five minutes from the airport to meet with potential out of state donors for his 2008 Presidential campaign without inconveniencing them with the two hour round trip to Sante Fe.

==Campaign finance scandal==

==Campaign finance scandal==

==2008 Presidential Campaign==

==2008 Presidential Campaign==

Bill Richardson withdrew from the 2008 Presidential race on January 9th, 2008.<ref>

Bill Richardson withdrew from the 2008 Presidential race on January 9, 2008.<ref>

[http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/09/ap-bill-richardson-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race/ AP: Bill Richardson Drops Out of Democratic Presidential Race], [[Associated Press]], [[Fox News Channel]], January 9, 2008</ref> He withdrew after he trailed in fourth place in the the Iowa caucus with 2% of the votes, and then trailed in fourth in the New Hampshire primaries where he won 5%.  This showed that  he could not compete with his rivals’ star power, despite his credentials.

[http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/09/ap-bill-richardson-drops-out-of-democratic-presidential-race/ AP: Bill Richardson Drops Out of Democratic Presidential Race], [[Associated Press]], [[Fox News Channel]], January 9, 2008</ref> He withdrew after he trailed in fourth place in the the Iowa caucus with 2% of the votes, and then trailed in fourth in the New Hampshire primaries where he won 5%.  This showed that  he could not compete with his rivals’ star power, despite his credentials.

*[http://www.loyola.edu/dept/politics/intel/lee/bellows18.pdf Final Report of the Attorney General's Review Team on the Handling of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Investigation] ("The Bellows Report") (May 2000)

*[http://www.loyola.edu/dept/politics/intel/lee/bellows18.pdf Final Report of the Attorney General's Review Team on the Handling of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Investigation] ("The Bellows Report") (May 2000)

{{DEFAULTSORT: Richardson, William}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richardson, William}}

[[Category:New Mexico Governors]]

[[Category:New Mexico Governors]]

[[Category:Democratic Governors]]

[[Category:Democratic Governors]]