He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 1998 and served three two-year terms. As soon as he entered into office, he introduced a bill to decrease the state income tax rate, and this bill was signed into law in 1999. He soon became the
Assistant Whip of the House. In his second term, he was elevated to Assistant Majority Floor Leader. In his final term, he became the Majority Floor Leader, which is the second highest-ranking member of the House, consisting of 110 representatives from throughout the state. He could not seek re-election for state representative for a fourth term in 2004, as Michigan limits its state representatives to three terms. He ran for state senator for the 17th District of Michigan in the 2006 election. The previous district Senator, Beverly S. Hammerstrom, was ineligible for the 2006 ballot, as she had already served two full terms — the maximum number for senators. Richardville's main focus throughout his senatorial campaign, as it has been throughout his political career, was increasing jobs and the economy, health care and benefits for senior citizens, and education. On August 8, he won the district's
primary election for the Republican Party nomination, defeating
Milan mayor Owen Diaz. In the general election, he defeated Democrat Bob Shockman. Upon winning the election, he vowed to uphold his campaign promises to address the state's growing economic crisis. Richardville was reelected November 2, 2010 in which he will serve his 2nd and final term as State Senator, and Senate Majority Leader (due to term limits). His term as senator lasted from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2014. ==See also==