Megerle Resigns -- And there was much rejoicing

I have to admit, I haven't been following this story as closely as I should have been, but Wolfie over at Back2Stonewall.com has been doing such an excellent job, that I hope you all have been keeping up to date.

During the 2008 election, Covington City Commissioner Steve Megerle, along with two associates (Jerry Bramberger and Craig Johnson) paid for and distributed flyers out of the campaign fund outing fellow Commissioner Shawn Masters. Last week, they were found guilty of breaking Kentucky election rules that required full disclosure; that is, they did not put on the flyer that it had been paid for by the campaign. All three admitted guilt (read Megerle's and Bamberger's statements, both accepting full responsibility).

Not content to let it slide, the judge in the case dressed them down in court for their actions:

Hon. Kenneth Easterling, Kenton District Court: "To put a piece of literature in mailboxes or on cars is political bigotry. Nothing else, but political bigotry and it's shameful."

Content that justice had been served, Megerle refused to resign. Calls were made to rally at the next Commission meeting, people were making phone calls -- you know, all the good activist stuff that should be happening.

That is, until tonight, when Steve Megerle resigned via a statement.

From Back2Stonewall.com's post:

There was applause in a crowded commission chambers after his letter was read.

Megele couldn;t resist some last snipoing though wiritng in his resignation that: that he wholeheartedly believed if charges had been brought to remove him as a commissioner “I would have successfully defended them.” Megerle also wrote that he decided against fighting to stay on the commission “because I want the city to move forward without the distractions that I now realize will be created by others with obvious political agendas,”

I echo Wolfie's sentiment: BRAVO TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD ON THIS!!!!

Kentucky Anti-Gay Leaflet Investigated

Thanks to Back2Stonewall.com's post on this (he doesn't site any sources, but he's really reliable generally, so I'm assuming it's on the up-and-up):

The Kentucky Attorney General’s office is investigating anonymous pamphlets that smeared Covington City Commission candidate Shawn Masters and were distributed shortly before the Nov. 4 election.

City Commissioner Steve Megerle and former Commissioner Jerry Bamberger were subjects of the investigation when Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders in December referred the matter to the state, Sanders confirmed Friday and are currently being investigated by the KY Attorney’s General Office.

Bamberger confirmed he was told he was being investigated and said he could not comment further, referring questions to Phil Taliaferro, an attorney representing him. Megerle is represented by his father, who also is named Steve Megerle. The elder Megerle declined to comment...

The pamphlets, which some describe as having an anti-gay overtone in part because they question his “moral value,” included images of documents that reveal Masters, who was running in his first election, is gay. (Masters actually is openly gay) and the phamplet also revealed Masters’ name, date of birth and Social Security number, making him prone to identity theft.

Thanks, Wolfie!!! (He updates us in the comments, here's the Cincinnati.com story.)

PS -- > We have an openly gay commissioner in Kentucky? Why had I never heard of this?