Fri Nov 07 10:15Am

Richardson, who is up for re-election on Tuesday, temporarily lost her Sacramento home to foreclosure this year. Washington Mutual sold it at auction in May, but reversed the sale after Richardson complained she hadn't received proper notice.

Richardson said she has worked out a modified loan with the lender and plans to put the home up for sale or rent in December.

Richardson also had been issued multiple defaults on her homes in Long Beach and the neighboring Los Angeles port community of San Pedro. Five of those occurred as Richardson was using $177,500 of her own money to finance her political career.

Richardson's 37th Congressional District includes parts of South Central Los Angeles, Carson, Compton and most of Long Beach.

Earlier this year, the Press-Telegram reported that she had failed to pay car repair bills for years and had leased the priciest car in the House at taxpayers' expense.

On Friday, the congresswoman produced payment stubs and bank statements. She said she modified loans for all three of her homes without a reduction in interest or principal, and also is current on the payments for a leased apartment in Washington, D.C.

Richardson also managed to lower the lease on her government car from $1,299 a month to $774.

Richardson said she takes responsibility for "personal mistakes."

"What I didn't do is take care of myself and take care of my issues," she said.

However, Richardson also noted several costly changes in her life, including a divorce, changing jobs four times, and financing seven political races.

Richardson went from Long Beach City Council to the state Assembly in 2006 and a year later won the congressional seat formerly held by the late Juanita Millender-McDonald.

Source:http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10874738