Shuler Is on the Run Once Again

Heath Shuler set nearly all of Tennessee's passing records until Payton Manning came along, but the quarterback, who was a first-round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 1994 draft, never made an impact in the NFL. In fact, his name often comes up when the talk turns to draft busts. Shuler, now 34, retired from the NFL in 1999 and started a real estate company based in Knoxville. The business has been wildly successful, becoming one of the largest independent firms in East Tennessee. Now Shuler is plotting a triumphant return to Washington by entering the political arena. Shuler won the Democratic primary in North Carolina's 11th District and will try to unseat Rep. Charles Taylor, who cruised to victory in the Republican primary, in November. Taylor chairs a powerful House Appropriations subcommittee and has been in office for 16 years, but his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff have turned off many voters (some registration).