Style Weekly
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Mayor Wilder Won't Seek Second Term
by staff reports
Mayor L. Douglas Wilder this morning informed department heads at City Hall he will not seek reelection this fall. In a press statement issued this morning, Wilder says:
"As the first elected Mayor under the City's new form of government, I have set the course that will continue to produce meaningful results even as I now announce my leave from this office at the end of the year.
"Unprecedented gains in public safety have been made under the helm of Police Chief Rodney Monroe. In terms of economic vitality for our community, we have new businesses -- both major corporate giants and regional and smaller firms -- choosing to locate here and bring jobs back into the City. In terms of improving public education here, we have succeeded in cracking the shell to now allow for meaningful dialogue that will address the issues facing our school system and our youth.
"I would like to thank all of those who have supported me - from the business community to our regional colleagues to all of our citizens of every walk of life and stripe - for their continued encouragement and commitment.
"There is a new spirit within the City that we have turned the corner since 2005 and are reaching our potential to be all that we can be. We will continue to move our City forward, as we have done, and there will be no interruption in our goals or our determination to so do."
A View from Academia: Read an excerpt from "Richmond, Doug Wilder, and the Move to a Strong Mayor System: A Report on a Political Experiment in Progress," by University of Richmond professors Amy Howard, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, and Thad Williamson, who teaches leadership studies.Click here
"As the first elected Mayor under the City's new form of government, I have set the course that will continue to produce meaningful results even as I now announce my leave from this office at the end of the year.
"Unprecedented gains in public safety have been made under the helm of Police Chief Rodney Monroe. In terms of economic vitality for our community, we have new businesses -- both major corporate giants and regional and smaller firms -- choosing to locate here and bring jobs back into the City. In terms of improving public education here, we have succeeded in cracking the shell to now allow for meaningful dialogue that will address the issues facing our school system and our youth.
"I would like to thank all of those who have supported me - from the business community to our regional colleagues to all of our citizens of every walk of life and stripe - for their continued encouragement and commitment.
"There is a new spirit within the City that we have turned the corner since 2005 and are reaching our potential to be all that we can be. We will continue to move our City forward, as we have done, and there will be no interruption in our goals or our determination to so do."
A View from Academia: Read an excerpt from "Richmond, Doug Wilder, and the Move to a Strong Mayor System: A Report on a Political Experiment in Progress," by University of Richmond professors Amy Howard, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, and Thad Williamson, who teaches leadership studies.
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