McDonnell appoints Wilder's son as special assistant for re-entry education

Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) appointed former governor L. Douglas Wilder's son, Larry Wilder Jr., as special assistant on re-entry education.

Wilder, a lawyer who served in the House of Delegates, has spent more than two decades developing and implementing community and economic development models.

Wilder pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of simple cocaine possession in 2000 (and received probation) and mismanaging his father's gubernatorial campaign money in 2007 (and received a 12-month suspended sentence and several fines), according to records.

"Larry Wilder's experience and background make him exactly the right person to help with the Governor's prisoner re-entry program,'' McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin said. "He has extensive government and public policy experience. He also possesses a valuable personal perspective on this issue. The Governor believes everyone deserves an opportunity, that is what his prisoner re-entry program is all about. We look forward to Larry playing a key role in the effort to help more Virginians become productive and positive members of their communities."

The elder Wilder's decision to stay out of the governor's race last year was seen as a boost to McDonnell. But their relationship took a hit in recent weeks, when Wilder was all over national television airwaves blasting McDonnell for issuing a proclamation for Confederate History Month that did not reference slavery. When McDonnell apologized, Wilder was back on TV to vouch for the governor.

Wilder was present when McDonnell announced today that he will form a new council to examine Virginia prisoner re-entry. He will make $75,000 a year.

Today, McDonnell also appointed John Broadway as commissioner of the Virginia Employment Commission, Gordon Dixon as director of the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Arne W. Owens as chief deputy of the Department of Health Professionals.