So long! Farewell! Auf wiedersehen!! Good-bye!!

My, my, my. So much to say about local news. (I have been directed to inform you that it was an eagle-eyed office partner who alerted me to these stories.) Both stories are from the Kennebec Journal.

First up, this bit of crack reporting (read: cut and paste of our press release):

The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians today announced its opposition to a Nov. 3 referendum that would repeal the state’s new same-sex marriage law.

Chapter leaders said supporting marriage equality benefits children.

“Children who are raised by legally married parents benefit from the legal status granted to their parents. What is good for parents and families is good for children," said Dr. Jonathan Fanburg, chapter president.

The chapter's formal statement reads, in part, "As physicians who care for children and their families, we are committed to supporting what is best for children. And there is no question that when their parents can marry, children are more protected legally and socially."

Dr. Dan Summers, an Augusta pediatrician, said, “As pediatricians, we see how supportive parents -- whether gay or straight -- positively impact the development of children. That is why we oppose the referendum that would rescind the law that allows same-sex couples to marry."

A national study commissioned by the national pediatric group concluded that the legal status that marriage achieves “promotes healthy families by conferring a powerful set of rights, benefits, and protections that cannot be obtained by other means.”

Yay! Local news coverage! Remind me to avoid reading the online comments, so as to keep my blood pressure normal.

But, by far the bigger story (and the reason I have been doing a happy dance for the past five minutes) is this:

The Maine Family Policy Council says Michael Heath, who's been executive director for nearly 15 years, has stepped down to become a private consultant.

The council, previously known as the Christian Civic League of Maine, has been active in public policy issues including gambling and gay rights. Heath's resignation today was announced in the council's online publication, The Record. He said it's been a great honor to serve the organization.

Heath started with the civic league in 1989 as administrative assistant and was appointed executive director in January 1994.

The council's board has not selected a replacement but is starting a search process.

For those of you happily ignorant of the existence of Michael Heath, he is the odious little eel whose sole raison d'etre is opposition to All Things Gay. I can't possibly imagine what kind of glorious private consulting job would lead to his rapid exit right while the Proposition 1 campaign is ramping up, but I would like to add a hearty sayonara to the chorus of people hailing his departure. I can only hope his private consulting work leads him to spend lengthy periods of time plumbing the depths of the Mariana Trench.

Update: It occurs to me that, if I'm giving shout outs to people, now is a good opportunity to thank my reader in Jersey for the Zwetschgenkuchen.