Antigay pastor
will run for Maryland legislature

Pastor Rick Bowers, an opponent of same-sex marriage in Maryland, will run for the state legislature, he said Monday. Bowers, 47, is pastor at the Living Stone House of Worship in Pasadena. He also is chairman of Defend Maryland Marriage, which seeks to change the state constitution to define marriage as being a union solely between a man and a woman.

Bowers is running as a Republican and hopes to challenge the three Democratic incumbent delegates from Howard County. Although best known for his opposition to same-sex marriage (Bowers said last year that gay marriage proponents' efforts were "redefining our culture"), he said he will campaign on a broader "family values" platform.

"I'm not a single-issue candidate," said Bowers, who announced he would also work to lower taxes, stiffen penalties for crimes against children, and toughen sentencing guidelines. "I've taken notice that over the past years a lot of legislation, a lot of directions we're taking in this state don't help families."

A native of Howard County, Bowers says he intends to remain as pastor to the church if he wins. Currently, there are two other clergymen in the state legislature. (AP)