June 2, 2008

Former Virginia Governor L. Douglas Wilder became Richmond’s new mayor on January 2, 2005, following his election by an overwhelming majority of voters.

Wilder became the first African-American to be elected governor in the U.S., leading the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1990-1994. As governor, he was commended for his sound fiscal management and balancing the state budget during difficult economic times. Financial World magazine ranked Virginia as the best managed state in the U.S. for two consecutive years under his Administration. He served as lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1990.

Wilder announced he will be retiring in November, terminating a long public service career.

Serving as a state senator representing Richmond from 1969 to 1985, Wilder became the first African-American state senator in Virginia since Reconstruction. During his five terms as a state senator, he chaired committees on transportation; rehabilitation and social services; privileges and elections; the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council; and successfully sponsored Virginia’s first drug paraphernalia law and the compulsory school attendance law.

Other legislative achievements as state senator include providing state health care coverage for sickle-cell anemia patients; toughening penalties for capital murderers and prison escapees; and expanding low and moderate income housing. For eight years, he persisted in sponsoring legislation that eventually led to establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Finding the fiscal problems and social injustice of this great nation intolerable, Wilder declared for the presidency on September 13, 1991. He strongly felt that a message of fiscal prudence, racial healing and caring for people had to be delivered to America. But, on January 8, 1992, citing his responsibilities as Governor to be paramount, Wilder withdrew from the race to devote all of his attention and energies to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

He was appointed chairman of Governor Mark Warner’s Commission on Efficiency and Effectiveness in 2002 and also that year, co-chaired the Wilder-Bliley Charter Commission that advocated the at-large election of mayor.

In addition to currently serving as mayor, Wilder is a Distinguished Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a newspaper columnist and the driving force for establishing a national Slavery Museum in Fredericksburg (VA).

Serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, he was awarded the Bronze Star for heroism in combat while rescuing wounded GIs and capturing enemy troops.

In a May 23 laudatory editorial in The Washington Post, the newspaper recalled Wilder’s inauguration as Governor on January 13, 1990, remarking that Wilder’s election “rang out not only in Richmond, capital of the Confederacy, but throughout the South and beyond.”

It added, “Reaching past the all-too-recent traumas of segregation, massive resistance and institutionalized racism – traumas Mr. Wilder had witnessed first hand – he evoked a better America and his heartfelt pride in hailing from the state of Jefferson, Madison and George Mason.”