Thomas S. Richards (born July 8, 1943) is an American lawyer, business executive and politician who served as the 66th and 68th Mayor of Rochester, New York.
Thomas S. Richards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 68th Mayor of Rochester | |
| In office April 11, 2011 – December 31, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | R. Carlos Carballada |
| Succeeded by | Lovely Warren |
| 66th Mayor of Rochester | |
| In office January 1, 2011 – January 18, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Duffy |
| Succeeded by | R. Carlos Carballada |
| Deputy Mayor of Rochester | |
| In office October 28, 2010 – December 31, 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 8, 1943 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Independence |
| Spouse | Betty Richards |
| Children | Theodore Richards, Matthew Richards |
| Alma mater | Bucknell University Cornell University |
| Profession | Lawyer, Business Executive |
Past career
editFrom 1972 until 1991 Richards worked in the law firm Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now Nixon Peabody) where he specialized in civil litigation and served at various times as the managing partner and chairman of the management committee. In 1991 he joined Rochester Gas & Electric Corp. as general counsel. He later served as senior vice president for corporate services, senior vice president for finance and as president and chief operating officer. From 1998 until 2002 he was the chairman, president and chief executive officer of RGS Energy Group, the parent company of Rochester Gas & Electric. From 2006 to 2010 he was the corporation counsel of the City of Rochester. On October 28, 2010, he was appointed Deputy Mayor of the City of Rochester by Mayor Robert Duffy[1][2] and inaugurated interim mayor on January 1, 2011 when Duffy resigned to become Lieutenant Governor of New York.[3][4] On January 18, 2011, Richards resigned to ensure he could run in a special election for the reminder of Duffy's mayoral term without violating terms of the Hatch Act, which could have jeopardized federal funding.[5][6]
2011 Special Election
editOn February 5, 2011, Richards was officially nominated by the Democratic committee of Rochester to be the party's candidate in the special mayoral election scheduled for March 29. Richards won the election with 48.48% of the vote to former Mayor Bill Johnson's 41.72%.[7]
Re-election Campaign
editRichards announced on February 6, 2013 that he would run for re-election for a full term of his own as Rochester mayor.[8] He lost the Democratic primary to City Council President Lovely A. Warren 57% to 42%. The defeat was considered an upset, as Richards was better funded and led in the pre-vote polling. Richards ended his active campaign and endorsed Warren, but was kept as the chosen candidate on the Independence and Working Families lines. The Independence Party created the grass roots Turn Out for Tom campaign. In response, Richards stated that he would serve if re-elected mayor but denied having any contact with the Independence Party campaign. Richards lost the election to Warren 55% to 39%.
Political Legacy
editRichards political career may be remembered for his time as corporation counsel for the City of Rochester under the Duffy administration. This included the selling of the Fast Ferry, the redevelopment of the Midtown Plaza site which included buying the former shopping center, its demolition and the deals to bring in PAETEC (now Windstream) as the anchor tenant of the new development. He also helped sort out many financial difficulties at the Port of Rochester after the Fast Ferry ceased operations, with High Falls, and with local sports teams and landmarks. Richards negotiated a health care agreement with ambulance provider Rural Metro, settled labor contracts and repaired relationships with the city's unions.[9]
Under Richards as mayor projects such as the building of Rochester's new train station, the building of a new RGRTA bus terminal, the Charlotte Marina Project and the filling in of the east side of the Inner Loop were started. Development of the Midtown project continued.
After office
editIt was announced on March, 3rd 2014 that Richards was appointed to be chairman of the Rochester City School District volunteer board overseeing a $1.3 billion city school modernization program.[10] On August 10, 2016, he was replaced by Allen Williams, but remained on the board.[11]
Personal
editRichards is a graduate of Bucknell University and Cornell University Law School, and served in the U.S. Navy.
Richards is a trustee of the University of Rochester and of George Eastman House.
References
edit- ^ Thomas Richards to step in as Rochester’s deputy mayor [dead link]
- ^ Sharp, Brian (2010-10-28). "Mayor Robert Duffy names Tom Richards Rochester's deputy mayor". Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ "Thomas S. Richards sworn in as Mayor of Rochester". WHEC-TV. 2011-01-01. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
- ^ McGonigle, Pat (2011-01-03). "Rochester's new mayor meets the press". WHEC-TV. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02. Retrieved 2011-01-17.
- ^ Andreatta, Dave (2011-01-18). "Thomas Richards resigns as Rochester mayor; Carlos Carballada to take his place". Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
- ^ Adams, Thomas (2011-01-18). "Richards resigns mayor's post; Carballada tapped as acting mayor". Rochester Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
- ^ "2011 Special Mayoral Certification" (PDF). monroecounty.gov. 2011-01-11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ Adams, Thomas (2013-02-06). "Mayor Richards to run for re-election". Rochester Business Journal. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
- ^ Sharp, Brian (2013-12-27). "Adding up Thomas Richards' legacy". Democrat and Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2020-10-26. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
- ^ "Former Mayor Thomas Richards to lead school panel". Democrat and Chronicle. 2014-03-03. Archived from the original on 2022-07-03. Retrieved 2014-03-04.
- ^ "Former Mayor Richards No Longer Head of Rochester Joint Schools Construction Board". Spectrum Local News. 2016-08-10. Retrieved 2023-04-05.