Can a California-born Latino son of a banker wearing a brown suit and brown shoes in a blue-jeans-and-tennis-shoes world be nominated and ultimately elected president of the United States is a question that was answered by a resounding "yes" if the crowd in Boulder City on Oct. 2 was any indication.
Nearly 100 people sardined their way into the overcrowded Boulder Dam Hotel lobby to hear underdog Democratic Party candidate Bill Richardson give a 45-minute speech that touched on numerous topics, including Iraq, health care, veterans, water, education, the environment and even the Boulder City Bypass.
"If I'm president, I don't know if we can resolve that," the 59-year-old, two-term New Mexico governor said, in response to an introductory remark made by local Sara Denton, "but I will find ways to save your quality of life."
Richardson split his time between prepared remarks and a question-and-answer period designed to show the breadth of his knowledge and to be more interactive with potential voters.
He served in Congress for 14 years, became the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, served as President Clinton's energy secretary, and since 2002, has served as the chief executive of the Land of Enchantment.
"I've admired him since he was in the Clinton cabinet," said Carolyn Melbostad, a transplant to Boulder City from Minnesota. "He has experience, and I think he appeals to a broad spectrum. He knows our problems out here."
Richardson promised to scrap the Bush Administration's No Child Left Behind Act, push for a constitutional amendment over the next four to five years that would balance the budget, get rid of $22 billion in special individual congressional funds called earmarks and vowed to issue health cards to all veterans "so they can get health care anywhere they want."
"I'll be a president that brings people together," he said. "I'll have independents and Republicans on my cabinet. I'll have a teacher as the secretary of education, (and) someone from a union as the secretary of labor. I'll tell you who will be on my cabinet before you cast a vote."
Richardson, in response to a question about Yucca Mountain, said, "I've always been against Yucca Mountain," even though as energy secretary he rode a rocky road in Nevada by allowing two significant milestones to occur -- approval of a $3.1 billion contract to continue work on the nuclear waste repository project and issuing a government report that perpetuated the potential usability of the site.
Following the political appearance, hand-shaking and inevitable photo opportunities, Richardson left Boulder City for some fundraising functions in Las Vegas that night and on to Washington, D.C., the next day.
Before he left, though, some Boulder City residents voiced their approval of the man who lived in Mexico City as a teenager, attended Tufts University in Massachusetts and recently celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary with his Boston girlfriend, Barbara Flavin, whom he married in 1972.
"He's the best-qualified person for president," local Nicky Collins said. "He's got lots of experience."
Also chiming in was John Frischman, who moved to Boulder City five years ago from Chicago.
"I think it was great," he said. "I would really hope that Richardson would make it because he's got a spirit and view for our country that we need. I'm willing to listen to the others. I haven't made my mind up of who to vote for, but if he makes it, he's in my camp."
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