Posted by Phil Lee (216.250.238.35) on October 17, 2000 at 06:38:
Gun Law Hits Md. Speaker Politically
Longtime Allegany Leader Faces Opposition at Home
By Daniel LeDuc, Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday , October 16, 2000 ; Page B01
LA VALE, Md., Oct. 15 –– More than 220 gun enthusiasts gathered in the heart of House Speaker Casper R. Taylor Jr.'s home district today to protest his support of Maryland's newest gun control law.
The measure, requiring locks on all handguns sold in Maryland, took effect two weeks ago and is generating some of the stiffest opposition the powerful politician has endured in his three-decade-long political career.
Dozens of hunters and other gun-rights advocates trudged into a volunteer fire hall not far from Cumberland for the rally--which residents called unprecedented--to collect National Rifle Association bumper stickers and listen to activists speak. The two-hour rally was orchestrated by the NRA's chief Maryland lobbyist, and the turnout was large for this rural area and an attention grabber for politicians.
But Taylor, a Democrat who has represented Western Maryland in Annapolis for 27 years, has been attracting a lot of attention himself in recent months.
Besides his support for the new gun law, Taylor has injected himself into a fight on consolidating schools and is pushing for a new horse racetrack in Allegany County, issues that have split many communities here.
The new fights, generating opposition on so many fronts, come at a telling time for the speaker, one of the most influential politicians in the state. Even as he faces the discontent at home, Maryland's political insiders are prognosticating about Taylor's future.
He has led the House of Delegates for seven years; most speakers last about eight before the burnout and aggravation of commanding the 141-member House take their toll. Taylor, 65, has acknowledged weighing a bid for lieutenant governor, comptroller or state treasurer even as he contemplates running for reelection to the House in 2002.
"I care so deeply about public service that I want to find the best contribution I can make to the future of the state and to the future of my homeland in Western Maryland," Taylor said in an interview. "If the realities of the time convince me it's as speaker, fine. If the realities of the time convince me it's as something else, that's fine, too."
The gun owners at today's rally see Taylor as close to invincible at the ballot box, but they also said that could change.
"Right now, I think Cas is a little worried," said Jerry Zembower, who heads the 4,000-member Allegany County-Garrett County Sportsmen's Association. "He's got gun people upset. He's got school people upset, and now he's trying to ram a racetrack down people's throats.
"Every election year rolls around and people say we're sick of Cas Taylor, and Cas Taylor keeps getting elected. But my point is he's got people here that he's got to listen to."
Taylor has been a fierce advocate for Western Maryland in the legislature. Even his opponents acknowledge that he has been able to direct tens of millions of state dollars to help a region that so far has not matched the rest of the state's booming growth--aid that likely would not have come if the speaker were from elsewhere. Unemployment here is among the highest in Maryland, large employers have shuttered or moved, and there has been a brain drain as students leave for college and don't return.
The speaker has pushed for new prisons in Western Maryland to increase jobs, increased tourism opportunities and fought for better highway networks and air service to this mountainous region to try to attract employers.
"His base of support remains strong," said Irene Strieby, a retired schoolteacher and Democratic activist. "His future is what he wants to make it. No matter what he decides it will be, we'd support him."
Taylor currently is pushing for construction of a new horse racetrack as another economic development boost. He favors a plan under consideration by William Rickman, who operates Dover Downs in Delaware, for a track in eastern Allegany County. Pimlico owner Joseph A. DeFrancis is hoping to win approval for a track near Frostburg. The state Horse Racing Commission is weighing the proposals.
"If Cas's assumption is this is going to put economic lifeblood into the county, I think he's wrong," said Nelson Guild, the retired president of Frostburg State University, who opposes a track in either location. "My major concern is gambling. I think it's particularly wrong in an area where economic health leaves something to be desired."
For most of this year, residents have been grappling with what to do with the public schools in the county, where population is dwindling, leaving few children to attend classes. Taylor wanted the school board to delay consolidating some schools for a year while the issue was studied, and he arranged for a special state appropriation of $1 million to help with school costs.
But Allegany officials rejected the money, and residents decried the speaker's involvement in the issue.
"Cas has inserted himself into every issue at every level of government in Allegany County. He controls everything that happens in Allegany County," said Kimi-Scott McGreevy, who has helped develop a Web page critical of Taylor. "I am a Democrat. I'm voting for Gore. But I will vote for a Republican against Cas Taylor" in 2002.
Isolated from much of what happens in Annapolis--most television stations here are from Pittsburgh--residents sometimes are quick to read conspiracy in their politics. Many here saw the $1 million for schools as Taylor's reward for supporting the gun control law, which was the main policy priority for Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) this year.
Taylor has denied that and said he's convinced voters will see he was right when a new study on the schools is completed. But many residents are starting to link their anger over schools and guns, and it is a worrisome combination for a politician.
"It's a very big concern of mine that all kinds of wonderful people who I've lived with my entire life . . . are being so grossly misled by the NRA national leadership," Taylor said before today's rally, which he did not attend. "You check Taylor's 27-year record and it's been very pro-gun, very pro-wildlife." He said the new gun control legislation was for safe gun handling and wouldn't limit anyone's ability to own a gun.
But the gun forces have Taylor in their sights. "We have targeted him for an education campaign, and if we cannot have some success at that education campaign, then we'll look to target him with a different campaign in two years," said NRA lobbyist Greg Costa.