Virginia's ex-gov. Wilder running for mayor of Richmond

Jet, Oct 18, 2004

Fifteen years after he made history as America's first and only Black elected governor, Virginia's L. Douglas Wilder is aiming to make history again in his hometown of Richmond.

He's now in the midst of a heated campaign with three other candidates to become the state capital's first elected mayor.

The mayor previously was picked by the City Council; however a year ago, Wilder and Republican former U.S. Rep. Thomas J. Bliley campaigned for a referendum to establish citywide elections for a strong mayoral seat.

Despite grim predictions by other Black politicians, the issue won by 80% with a majority White vote.

Wilder later put himself on the line by running for the office most of the minority elected officials believed was out of their reach.

His three opponents include incumbent appointed Mayor Rudolph McCollum Jr. and architect Lawrence Williams, also Blacks, and former city school board member Charles Nance, who is White.

Asked why he's running, the 73-year-old pacesetter cited the city's climbing murder rate. "I'm not entitled to rest when I look and see little kids being shot up and maimed and crippled, and people are afraid to go on their streets and walk and to be educated in their schools. I began to look around and see the reason."