Wilder’s next act is online, starting a political blog

If you've blazed trails as a governor and mayor, what do you do for an encore?

If you're L. Douglas Wilder, you start a blog.

Wilder concluded his four-year term as Richmond's mayor yesterday, announcing in an e-mail newsletter that he's started a blog, http://www.WilderVisions.com. The site, which will cover local and national topics, uses the masthead created for his mayoral e-mail newsletter, Visions.

"I will continue to live in the city I love, and will maintain an active voice," said Wilder, who was Virginia's first and only African-American governor and Richmond's first elected mayor under its new form of government.

Wilder, who is returning to full-time teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University, said he's confident that the city is headed in the right direction and cited a recent poll indicating that most residents agree.

"The people are always ahead of politicians," Wilder wrote. "Citizens provide the support for the vision and impetus for government -- fighting crime, protecting the river, improving schools, and so on."

Wilder enters the blogosphere along with city activist Silver Persinger, who has started a blog at http://www.richmond-telegraph.blogspot.com. His site will provide news and opinion on city government.

Persinger's first installment chronicled his frustration in trying to find out why yesterday's swearing-in of Mayor Dwight Clinton Jones was initially planned to be a private, invitation-only ceremony.

Jones ultimately moved the proceedings to the council's chamber at City Hall and opened them to the public.
Contact Will Jones at (804) 649-6911 or .