Bill Richardson - 2008 Presidential Candidate

Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico is one of the Democratic 2008 presidential candidates. Richardson, son of an American banker and a Mexican secretary, told a Washington Post staff writer, "I think of myself as an American governor who happens to be Hispanic and is very proud of it. I've never run as a Hispanic. In a state like New Mexico . . . you have to appeal to conservative voters, Anglo voters, Native American voters. You have to appeal to all voters."

One reason Bill Richardson a viable candidate for the office of President of the United States is his experience as a negotiator. He asserts, "The fact that I was brought up in a bicultural background helps me be a negotiator as a diplomat, as a politician." He has negotiated with some of the most notorious and nefarious players in international politics and that is the reason, in large part, Richardson has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times, in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001.

An article published in hispanianews.com provides background on one of his nominations, "Among Richardson's accomplishments cited in the nomination submission [by the nation's largest Latino civil rights organization and a prestigious group of prominent academics and political leaders]: [Richardson's] work to free American servicemen and others being held captive in Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Cuba, and elsewhere. [Richardson's] negotiation of a peaceful transfer of power in the former Congo. [Richardson's] brokering of an agreement, after securing a military stand-down, for face-to-face peace talks between the Taliban regime and opposing factions in Afghanistan. [Richardson's] secure of safe passage for some 7,000 Tajikistan refugees trapped in northern Afghanistan through Uzbekistan."

Bill Richardson was elected to Congress in 1982, serving in the House or Representative in the 3rd congressional district of New Mexico from 1983 - 1997. Richardson was Ambassador to the United Nations in 1997 and 1998 and was United States Secretary of Energy from 1998-2001. Bill Richardson has served as Governor of New Mexico since 1993.

Bill Richardson was born in November 1947, in Pasadena, California, and his mother returned to Mexico immediately after his birth. Richardson lived in Mexico City, Mexico through seventh grade, when his father sent him to the elite boarding school, Middlesex, in Concord, Massachusetts. Richardson felt immersed in a foreign world at Middlesex, where only English was spoken. He felt like an outsider and struggled academically at first. Baseball is what helped him to be accepted by his classmates. In a Washington Post Interview, Richardson acknowledges, "It was baseball that was the bridge, for me, to be accepted as an American, because I made the varsity team that first eighth-grade year."

Bill Richardson recently joined California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Washington Governor Chris Gregoire to create the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a joint strategy to fight global warming. Richardson has made it know he is committed to making New Mexico the "Clean Energy State."

Richardson is pro-choice, supports the death penalty and gun rights, and advocates minority preferences in government contracts. A Bill Richardson presidency would focus on immigration, education and energy. Richardson opposes the Iraq War and feels the best way to support our troops is to bring them home. As Governor or New Mexico, Richardson cut taxes and created 80,000 jobs in high tech and other areas. New Mexico is currently sixth in the nation for job growth. Richardson also cut school bureaucracy and raised teacher pay.

Bill Richardson is the author of Between Worlds: The Making of an American Life. Richardson is a strong leader with a proven track record as an executive and as a diplomat. He has demonstrated his willingness and ability to tackle problems, domestic and abroad, and to bring people together.