Style Weekly has just released its 3rd Annual Power List for Richmond. Yep, that’s our new governor, Tim Kaine, occupying the forefront on the cover, but he ain’t Numero Uno, even though his license plate claims so. This distinction falls to the mayor of our fair city, L. Douglas Wilder. Wait a minute, that name sounds familiar. Who is Wilder, again?

     Doug Wilder  is one for the ages. In 1989, Doug Wilder became the first elected black governor in the history of United States. (Hey, pretty progressive for Richmond and Virginia, huh? And people claim we’re still fighting the War of North Aggression.) If there was ever a “uniter and not a divider”, it is Doug Wilder. Last January, Wilder was 75.  In November 2004, when many his age would have been content to rest on their laurels, his commitment to his state and especially his hometown of Richmond called this old warhorse out of retirement to run for Richmond’s first duly elected mayor. Regional cooperation, race issues, and the clash between the public and private sectors have always presented problems for the City of Richmond. Doug Wilder mitigates these issues every day, while reminding the occupier of the Governor’s Mansion that the true power in Richmond is his.