When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm Politics in Virginia's Capital City

by Linwood Norman

Our nation’s first elected Black governor, L. Douglas Wilder, returned to public service in 2005 as the first popularly elected mayor of Richmond, Virginia in nearly sixty years. Despite his landslide election, voters may have had little idea what they were getting themselves into, as many were ill-prepared for Wilder’s strong style of leadership. He had remarkable success in reducing crime, cutting government spending, and boosting economic vitality, but Wilder’s relationship with City Council and the School Board—and the disagreements that ensued from both sides—tarnished his record as mayor. Author and former press secretary to the mayor, Linwood Norman, skillfully recounts the turmoil of Richmond’s transition to the “strong mayor” model of local government during what was a memorable chapter in Richmond’s rich political history that is still deliberated today, more than fifteen years after Wilder’s charismatic tenure concluded.

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2024

Reviews

[Loralyn Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED it! Of course, I LIVED it, too. During Mayor Wilder's tenure, I was a resident of RVA, so the stories had already formed memories for me. Reliving them and watching those stories, with a bird's-eye view transformed into an exclusive VIP behind-the-scenes look, made them all the more impactful because of the artful writing of the book's author, Linwood Norman. For a detailed review, please go to: https://loralynmearsphd.substack.com/...

[Kim Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a life long Richmonder, I have always been intrigued by Doug Wilder. This book gives up close and personal accounts of him, his style, and his political agenda when he was elected the first strong Mayor of Richmond. This book is an exciting read for any Virginian.