Biography:

Richard Romero is a state legislative leader and retired educator, who is making his second bid for Congress. He was born in Oakland, Calif., where his father was a shipyard welder.

Romero's family moved to New Mexico, the home of his parents, when he was two. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Albuquerque in 1967 and became a history and science teacher.

Military duty interrupted Romero's teaching career in 1968 when his Air National Guard unit was called to active duty and ordered to South Korea.

Romero returned to his school job in August 1969, and later became an administrator. He earned a master's degree in education administration in 1972 from New Mexico State University.

From 1972 to 1975, he was principal of "School on Wheels," a program for at-risk students. He then moved to other positions, including serving as principal at his alma mater, Albuquerque High School. He was an assistant superintendent at Albuquerque Public Schools from 1987 until retiring in 1995.

Romero won election to the state Senate in 1992. He took over the chamber's top leadership post in 2001, defeating the longtime Senate president pro tem.

Romero is married and has one adult son.

Past Campaigns:

Richard Romero won election to the state Senate in 1992. He defeated a 26-year Democratic incumbent _ Michael Alarid, who had been majority floor leader _ by receiving 66 percent of the vote in the primary. He won the general election with 71 percent of the vote.

Romero was unopposed for re-election in 1996, and won re-election in 2000 against a Republican by getting 74 percent of the vote. He was unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the Albuquerque-area 1st Congressional District in 2002 but lost to incumbent Republican Heather Wilson in the general election. She won with 55 percent of the vote, her best performance since running for the seat in 1998.

Romero won the Democratic nomination in 2004 with 58 percent of the vote against a political newcomer, Miles Nelson, an emergency room physician.

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