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: http://216.15.229.16/news/full_story.cfm?story_id=7525 : Thursday, January 16, 2003 : Former speaker looks back, looks forward : Mike A. Sawyers : Times-News Staffwriter : CUMBERLAND - Admittedly still smarting from the ballot-box rejection in November that cost him his seat in the Maryland General Assembly as well as the position of speaker of the house, Casper Taylor Jr. said Tuesday he takes solace in the overwhelming support from his home county and the fact that he has begun a new consulting business. : Following a recount, Taylor lost his seat to LeRoy Myers Jr., a Washington County Republican and political novitiate who came out on top by 72 votes. More than 10,700 were cast. : "I won't say there aren't moments that I am depressed. When you love something as much as I loved the legislature and then get in the position of speaker, well, it came as a shock," Taylor said. "But I have been surrounded by people throughout the state who have offered me tremendous moral support." : Taylor said the loss would have been more difficult had not his home county voted 67 percent in his favor. : "That's a mandate anywhere," he said. "I will be eternally grateful for the support of my neighbors." : The 28-year veteran of the General Assembly, including nine as speaker, said he realizes that a variety of factors led to his political loss. Redistricting took some of Allegany County's precincts away and gave him some from western Washington County. : Then there was the firearms issue. : Taylor said he believes that the people in Washington County bought into the argument that he was in favor of gun control. : "You know, you use the term gun control and what does that mean?" Taylor asked. "The government does not have the right to take people's firearms from them - because of the Second Amendment. But is that to say the government doesn't have the right, based upon technology, to make guns as safe as possible so that it will prevent innocent kids from dying? : "If you tell a person that they must wear a seat belt to legally drive their car, is that car control? By telling them they must wear a seat belt, you are not denying them the privilege of driving the car." : Taylor said, too, that the popularity of Robert Ehrlich helped to sweep Republicans into various offices statewide and to push some Democrats out. "There was a large coattail effect," he said. : Taylor said he is waiting to see the fate of One Maryland, the program he generated that attempts to economically assist the less affluent and usually rural parts of the state. : "I haven't seen his budget yet," Taylor said, referring to the new governor's fiscal road map. "We don't know if it will stay the same ... be cut in half. I certainly hope it (One Maryland) doesn't get scrapped. There are still very large infrastructure needs in Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore." : Taylor said he will miss most the legislative process. "The legislative system is a wonderful system and Maryland's is in the forefront. When you say the word government you are talking about the people. That's us. We have wonderful direct representation in Maryland." : What will he miss the least? Travel. : Taylor said the distance between Annapolis and Cumberland caused him to put 50,000 miles on a car annually. "I won't miss that," he said. : Today's related article: : Taylor opens consulting business <http://216.15.229.16/news/full_story.cfm?story_id=7523>.

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