Wilder's Links With GOP Puzzle Fellow Democrats

Former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder has made a career outof tweaking fellow Democrats. The more powerful -- like the currentDemocratic governor, Mark R. Warner -- the better the target forWilder's derision.

But lately, it seems, Wilder has crossed a new threshold that haspolitical tongues wagging around the state. It's almost as if Wilder,the nation's first black governor and a lifelong Democrat, has becomea Republican.

Last night, he was the featured speaker at a two-day retreat inReston for Republicans in the House of Delegates. That follows hisdecision to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in March with U.S. Sen. GeorgeAllen, one of the state's leading Republicans, to chastise Warner forhis plan to increase taxes.

And this month, Wilder announced plans to run for mayor ofRichmond, his home town, in an election that Wilder and former U.S.representative Thomas J. Bliley Jr., a Republican, engineered. Blileyand Wilder co-chaired a commission that pushed for the directelection of the city's mayor.

All of which has Wilder's friends and enemies alike wondering justwhat he's up to.

"He has his own drummer, somewhere," said John G. Milliken, whoserved as secretary of transportation under Wilder in the early1990s. "I don't know exactly where he finds his drummer, or where hehears it, but he does."

Wilder used his speech to several dozen Republican lawmakers lastnight as an early platform in his bid for mayor, promising to seekhelp from the conservative lawmakers to fight crime in Richmond,where the violent crime and homicide rates have risen.

"We are not going to be happy with the crime rates we have," hesaid.

The Republicans welcomed Wilder with open arms, at one pointjokingly chanting, "Four more years!" One delegate called it "astrange night," recalling that he had worked for weeks 15 years agoto defeat Wilder.

When asked to comment on Wilder's attendance at the Republicanretreat, Warner only chuckled. Many other Democrats also declined tocomment, though several said the oddity of it all was the subject ofgossip at a House Democratic Caucus fundraiser at the Homesteadresort last week.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) said he invitedWilder because the former governor led the commission on governmentreform and is "an independent-minded fellow."

Paul Goldman, Wilder's chief strategist, dismissed any Democraticcriticism of Wilder's attendance at the event as a "petty powerthing." He said Wilder has every intention of continuing to work withanyone, regardless of party.

"I suppose some people would prefer that everybody would agree oneverything all of the time," Goldman said. "I would think you wouldwant to reach out; you would want to talk to people."

Butting heads with Democrats is nothing new for Wilder, who hasstrained relationships with many of the state's most successfulstatewide Democrats.

Wilder's feuds with Democrat Charles S. Robb, a former governorand U.S. senator, are legend in Virginia. In 1988, Wilder's cellphone conversation about Robb, which was taped and later distributedto reporters, helped to destroy Robb's chances for higher office.

In the late 1980s, Wilder opposed efforts by then-Gov. Gerald L.Baliles (D) to raise taxes for transportation. And when Wilder becamegovernor in 1989, he was sued by Democrat Mary Sue Terry, his ownattorney general.

In 1997, Wilder refused to endorse Democratic Lt. Gov. Donald S.Beyer in his run against Republican Attorney General James S. GilmoreIII. Gilmore won, and Beyer went back to his Volvo dealership inFalls Church.

And Wilder has a rocky relationship with Warner, who served asWilder's campaign chairman during his bid for governor.

"He's as fearless a politician or a public official as I've everencountered," Milliken said of Wilder, his former boss. "That rubs alot of people the wrong way. But it has also gotten him where he is."

In that respect, Wilder's recent pattern of associating publiclywith Republicans fits well the pattern of his political life.

"You develop a maverick reputation, and once you become part ofthe establishment, how do you demonstrate your maverick streak?" saidone former Wilder aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Youhave to scratch that maverick itch."

Now, the state capitol is buzzing with the possibility that Wildercould endorse Republican Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore in therace for governor in 2005. Kilgore is running against Lt. Gov.Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat and the former mayor of Richmond.

"One of the joys of watching Doug Wilder is the constantreinvention," said Steve Haner, the chief lobbyist for the VirginiaChamber of Commerce and a former GOP strategist. "Everything old isnew again. That's what makes it so much fun to watch."

Wilder's Links With GOP Puzzle Fellow Democrats

Former Virginia governor L. Douglas Wilder has made a career outof tweaking fellow Democrats. The more powerful -- like the currentDemocratic governor, Mark R. Warner -- the better the target forWilder's derision.

But lately, it seems, Wilder has crossed a new threshold that haspolitical tongues wagging around the state. It's almost as if Wilder,the nation's first black governor and a lifelong Democrat, has becomea Republican.

Last night, he was the featured speaker at a two-day retreat inReston for Republicans in the House of Delegates. That follows hisdecision to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in March with U.S. Sen. GeorgeAllen, one of the state's leading Republicans, to chastise Warner forhis plan to increase taxes.

And this month, Wilder announced plans to run for mayor ofRichmond, his home town, in an election that Wilder and former U.S.representative Thomas J. Bliley Jr., a Republican, engineered. Blileyand Wilder co-chaired a commission that pushed for the directelection of the city's mayor.

All of which has Wilder's friends and enemies alike wondering justwhat he's up to.

"He has his own drummer, somewhere," said John G. Milliken, whoserved as secretary of transportation under Wilder in the early1990s. "I don't know exactly where he finds his drummer, or where hehears it, but he does."

Wilder used his speech to several dozen Republican lawmakers lastnight as an early platform in his bid for mayor, promising to seekhelp from the conservative lawmakers to fight crime in Richmond,where the violent crime and homicide rates have risen.

"We are not going to be happy with the crime rates we have," hesaid.

The Republicans welcomed Wilder with open arms, at one pointjokingly chanting, "Four more years!" One delegate called it "astrange night," recalling that he had worked for weeks 15 years agoto defeat Wilder.

When asked to comment on Wilder's attendance at the Republicanretreat, Warner only chuckled. Many other Democrats also declined tocomment, though several said the oddity of it all was the subject ofgossip at a House Democratic Caucus fundraiser at the Homesteadresort last week.

House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) said he invitedWilder because the former governor led the commission on governmentreform and is "an independent-minded fellow."

Paul Goldman, Wilder's chief strategist, dismissed any Democraticcriticism of Wilder's attendance at the event as a "petty powerthing." He said Wilder has every intention of continuing to work withanyone, regardless of party.

"I suppose some people would prefer that everybody would agree oneverything all of the time," Goldman said. "I would think you wouldwant to reach out; you would want to talk to people."

Butting heads with Democrats is nothing new for Wilder, who hasstrained relationships with many of the state's most successfulstatewide Democrats.

Wilder's feuds with Democrat Charles S. Robb, a former governorand U.S. senator, are legend in Virginia. In 1988, Wilder's cellphone conversation about Robb, which was taped and later distributedto reporters, helped to destroy Robb's chances for higher office.

In the late 1980s, Wilder opposed efforts by then-Gov. Gerald L.Baliles (D) to raise taxes for transportation. And when Wilder becamegovernor in 1989, he was sued by Democrat Mary Sue Terry, his ownattorney general.

In 1997, Wilder refused to endorse Democratic Lt. Gov. Donald S.Beyer in his run against Republican Attorney General James S. GilmoreIII. Gilmore won, and Beyer went back to his Volvo dealership inFalls Church.

And Wilder has a rocky relationship with Warner, who served asWilder's campaign chairman during his bid for governor.

"He's as fearless a politician or a public official as I've everencountered," Milliken said of Wilder, his former boss. "That rubs alot of people the wrong way. But it has also gotten him where he is."

In that respect, Wilder's recent pattern of associating publiclywith Republicans fits well the pattern of his political life.

"You develop a maverick reputation, and once you become part ofthe establishment, how do you demonstrate your maverick streak?" saidone former Wilder aide who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Youhave to scratch that maverick itch."

Now, the state capitol is buzzing with the possibility that Wildercould endorse Republican Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore in therace for governor in 2005. Kilgore is running against Lt. Gov.Timothy M. Kaine, a Democrat and the former mayor of Richmond.

"One of the joys of watching Doug Wilder is the constantreinvention," said Steve Haner, the chief lobbyist for the VirginiaChamber of Commerce and a former GOP strategist. "Everything old isnew again. That's what makes it so much fun to watch."