Tonight, Texas has lost one of its greatest governor's this state ever had. Former Governor Dorothy Ann Richards has passed away.

It was her famous keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention was really an inspiration; and what finally motivated me into politics. I met her once, when I was at the University of Texas. In fact, I didn't only meet her, I had actually had a debate with her on the floor of the House floor. It was right after she announced her school financing program, the Robin Hood plan. I still remember it as if were yesterday. I am really going to miss her.

Governor Richards appointed more women, African Americans, and Hispanics to office than any previous administration. She worked with the legislature to pass insurance reform, ethics rules for lobbyists, better hazardous waste management, and restructuring of public school financing. She reformed the Texas prison system by establishing a substance abuse program for inmates, reducing the number of violent offenders released, and increasing prison space to deal with a growing prison population (from less than 60,000 in 1992 to more than 80,000 in 1994). All of this gone now, thanks to the Bush Mafia take over.

She helped make Texas a better place until she was cheated out of office by the Bush Mafia and Democratic backstabbers. She has always stayed true to her stance in politics. In the 2004 presidential election, Richards endorsed Governor Howard Dean for the Democratic nomination, and campaigned on Dean's behalf.