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  Richards, Ann
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationDemocratic  
<-  1998-01-01  
 
NameAnn Richards
Address
Austin, Texas , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born September 01, 1933
DiedSeptember 13, 2006 (73 years)
ContributorEric
Last ModifedRob Ritchie
Dec 07, 2019 10:06am
Tags Caucasian - Divorced - Cancer - Methodist -
InfoBorn: Dorothy Ann Willis was born September 1, 1933, in Lakeview, Texas. Richards received a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and a teaching certificate from the University of Texas. She taught social studies and history at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin before raising her family. She also spent much of her time volunteering for political campaigns and causes, especially those focusing on civil rights and economic justice.

Richards entered politics in 1976, winning election as a Travis county commissioner. Six years later in 1982 she was elected state treasurer, the first woman elected to statewide office in Texas in fifty years. She was credited with greatly modernizing the operations of the treasury. Reelected in 1986, she gained national prominence when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.

Ann Richards oversaw a revival of the state's economic fortunes. She stressed government efficiency by authorizing comprehensive audits of every state agency. She focused on education as well, introducing site-based management to put more power in the hands of the parents and teachers at the campus level. In the area of law enforcement, Richards increased prison space, cut the release of violent offenders, introduced a substance abuse program in Texas prisons, and opposed the sale of assault weapons and "cop-killer" bullets. Richards was also noted for her unprecedented appointments of women and minorities to important posts. During her administration a state lottery was approved and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was passed.


JOB APPROVAL POLLS
DateFirmApproveDisapproveDon't Know
03/13/1994-03/13/1994 Unknown 60.00% ( 0.0) 0.00% ( 0.0) 0.00% ( 0.0)

BOOKS
Title Purchase Contributor
The Thorny Rose of Texas: An Intimate Portrait of Governor Ann Richards  Purchase COSDem 
Straight from the Heart: My Life in Politics and Other Places  Purchase COSDem 
Storming the Statehouse: Running for Governor with Ann Richards and Dianne Feinstein  Purchase Eric 
I'm Not Slowing Down  Purchase COSDem 
Ann Richards: Politician, Feminist, Survivor  Purchase COSDem 

EVENTS
Start Date End Date Type Title Contributor

NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
Sep 16, 2006 12:00pm News Clinton, Richards' family escort ex-governor's casket to Capitol  Article Eric 
Sep 14, 2006 01:00am News Politicians Remember Ann Richards  Article COSDem 
Sep 14, 2006 01:00am News A Look Back On Ann Richards' Life  Article COSDem 
Sep 13, 2006 09:45pm Obituary Former Texas Governor Ann Richards Dies  Article RP 
Apr 11, 2006 08:55pm News Ann Richards expects full recovery from cancer  Article COSDem 
Mar 08, 2006 03:00pm General [Ann] Richards has cancer  Article DFWDem 

DISCUSSION
Importance? 8.75000 Average

FAMILY
Daughter Cecile Richards 1957-

INFORMATION LINKS
1988 Democratic National Convention Keynote Address - Ann Richards  Discuss
RACES
  11/08/1994 TX Governor Lost 45.88% (-7.60%)
  03/08/1994 TX Governor - D Primary Won 77.79% (+55.58%)
  11/06/1990 TX Governor Won 49.47% (+2.55%)
  04/10/1990 TX Governor - D Runoff Won 57.09% (+14.18%)
  03/13/1990 TX Governor - D Primary Won 38.96% (+2.29%)
  11/04/1986 TX Treasurer Won 91.68% (+83.37%)
  11/02/1982 TX Treasurer Won 60.76% (+22.34%)
  05/01/1982 TX Treasurer - D Primary Won 47.07% (+13.11%)
ENDORSEMENTS
TX US President - D Primary - Mar 09, 2004 D Howard Dean
TX - Dem State Party Chair - Oct 24, 2003 D Garry Mauro