Richard J Berry
Encyclopedia
Richard J. Berry is the ninth mayor of Albuquerque
, New Mexico and a former member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
.
Berry was sworn into office on 1 December 2009, succeeding Democrat Martin Chávez
. Berry is a member of the Republican Party.
on November 6, 1962, he was raised in Nebraska
. Berry moved to Albuquerque
in 1982 to attend the University of New Mexico
, where he met his future wife, Maria Medina. Berry graduated Alma mater
with a degree in finance
and administration, and went into business with his wife. Berry became a successful entrepreneur
, working in construction for the next twenty years.
, Berry served two terms representing the city of Albuquerque. During the mayoral race of 6 October 2009, Berry was elected with 43.88% of the popular vote. His opponents Martin Chávez
and Richard Romero, both Democrats, came out with 35.05% and 20.89% of the vote. This outcome came as a slight surprise after Albuquerque's recent streak of Democrat mayors.
Berry currently holds a full-time paid elected position with a four-year term.
, participating with his son who is also a member of the Boy Scouts
. He enjoys outdoor activities and sports, lettering in track and field
while at the University of New Mexico
. He participates in community events, serves on the Lobo Club board of directors at the University of New Mexico
. Although Berry was raised as a Methodist, he is active in the Catholic Church and school of which his wife's family attends.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico and a former member of the New Mexico House of Representatives
New Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
.
Berry was sworn into office on 1 December 2009, succeeding Democrat Martin Chávez
Martin Chavez
Martin Joseph Chávez Chávez is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green...
. Berry is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life
Richard Berry was born in IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
on November 6, 1962, he was raised in Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. Berry moved to Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
in 1982 to attend the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, where he met his future wife, Maria Medina. Berry graduated Alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
with a degree in finance
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
and administration, and went into business with his wife. Berry became a successful entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, working in construction for the next twenty years.
Political career
While in the New Mexico House of RepresentativesNew Mexico House of Representatives
The New Mexico House of Representatives is the lower house of the New Mexico State Legislature.There are 70 members of the House. Each member represents roughly 25,980 residents of New Mexico.The Speaker of the House is Ben Luján .-Composition:...
, Berry served two terms representing the city of Albuquerque. During the mayoral race of 6 October 2009, Berry was elected with 43.88% of the popular vote. His opponents Martin Chávez
Martin Chavez
Martin Joseph Chávez Chávez is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green...
and Richard Romero, both Democrats, came out with 35.05% and 20.89% of the vote. This outcome came as a slight surprise after Albuquerque's recent streak of Democrat mayors.
Berry currently holds a full-time paid elected position with a four-year term.
Other information
Berry is an Eagle ScoutEagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
, participating with his son who is also a member of the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
. He enjoys outdoor activities and sports, lettering in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
while at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. He participates in community events, serves on the Lobo Club board of directors at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
. Although Berry was raised as a Methodist, he is active in the Catholic Church and school of which his wife's family attends.