Richardson joined the South Australia Police (SAPOL) at a young age, serving in the elite Star Force unit for thirteen years.
While actively involved in police duties, he also played Australian rules football for the West Torrens club, and spent several years coaching local teams.
Kingston was held by the incumbent Australian Labor Party MP, Assistant Shadow Treasurer David Cox, by a narrow margin.
He also repeatedly advocated the extension of the Noarlunga Centre railway line to Sellicks Beach, but no federal government funding was forthcoming.
[citation needed] Richardson's Labor opponent for the 2007 federal election was psychologist Amanda Rishworth, who had previously stood for the State seat of Fisher.
Richardson was preselected to contest the state seat of Mawson at the 2010 election, but he stepped down amid revelations that he faced the criminal charge of impersonating a police officer.
[9] It was revealed in the pre-trial hearing that the allegation was related to an attempt to dissuade a witness from testifying in an assault case against Richardson's son.