In 1996, he ran for the Glendale-Burbank based 43rd district in the California State Assembly left open when incumbent Republican James Rogan decided to run for congress.

Wildman was an underdog, but demographic changes plus coordination with other Democratic campaigns in the area allowed him to eke out a 192-vote win over wealthy GOP businessman John Geranios.

An aggressive district outreach operation garnered Wildman strong support from Armenian and Latino voters, as well as endorsements from local Republican and Democratic officials, labor, teachers and law enforcement for his re-election effort.

[5] Wildman was not supposed to be much of a match for the Scott, a former president of Pasadena City College, whose assembly district boasted significantly more voters.

In 2001, several weeks after his tenure in the assembly had come to an end, Wildman lost another close race, this time for a seat on the Los Angeles City council.