L. DOUGLAS WILDER: SHAPING HISTORY IN VIRGINIA

In twenty years of public service. Wilder has seen manythings gel done. He persistently pushed the bill to establish theMartin Luther King holiday in Virginia. When Wilder first ar-rived at the General Assembly in 1969, it was "heller skelter,"lie says. In an effort to systemize the large, complex state gov-ernment structure. Wilder introduced the cabinet system in1972, which divides the state agencies into seven departments.The seven department secretaries report directly to the Cover-

Wilder is lough on drugs and crime, is persistent in fightingfor permanent tax relief for all Virginians, and is a strong sup-porter of economic development and better education. His edu-cation platform has received high praise from the Virginia Edu-

As chairman of the National Conference of Lieutenant Gover-nor's Drug Interdiction Task Force, Wilder is concerned aboutdrugs and crime related problems. Nothing will happen. Wildersays, until everybody becomes concerned and stresses the im-morality of drug use. "We must get the word to our children atthe earliest possible age. Teach this in school and test our young-sters on their knowledge of drugs." he stresses.

As rural and urban problems overlap. Wilder advocates drugtesting for inmates and those committing violent crimes. "They

On the campaign trail in Amelia Count}, population 8.500, Wildershook supporters' hands and lisited local business establish men ts inthis area of rural Virginia, an hour's drive from the Capitol.

must be locked away and only earn "good time'." The guber-natorial candidate is concerned about why the same people arecontinually lockedupmerand over again. "There must be treat-ment in the prisons for drugs and a program for education."Wil-der says that one condition of parole must be that the inmate re-main drug free and employed.

Wilder is well respected among his peers. He is now chairmanof the National Democratic Lieutenant Governors' Association.Previously he has held chairmanship of the Senate Committeeon Transportation; Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and So-cial Services; Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections;Virginia Advisory Legislative Council and the DemocraticSteering Committee-

He has also served on key study commissions including theGovernor's Commission on Transportation in the 21st Century;Virginia Housing Study; Pari-mutuel Betting on Horse Racing;Disposal of Solid Waste; Public Telecommunications in Vir-ginia; Neighborhood Assistance Act: Commercial Shipping inthe Commonwealth; Rights of Appeal; Constitutional Amend-ment; and Child Care Centers.

Wilder is energized by the people. His campaign strategy isabout the people. He visited every locality in the Common-wealth, a 3.700-mile campaign trail, during his bid for Lt. Gov-

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