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| Exec. Dir. Mike Heath |
Confirming what our supporters and opponents have known all along, the local political news website PolitickerME ranked League Executive Director Mike Heath in its first annual "Power List 2008" this week. The website ranked Maine's top fifty most influential leaders and behind-the-scenes power brokers.
The list has already drawn criticism from some as being subjective since its criteria was only "to identify those folks who wield influence beyond a singular issue or job" and to not currently be elected to any office. By their own admission, PolitickerME notes: "we are sure we missed people."
Heath ranked 38th on the list of notables, behind former Governor Angus King (#3), Diocese of Portland's Bishop Richard Malone (#29), and longtime tax opposition force Mary Adams (#33). Following Heath on the list were the conservative As Maine Goes forum editor and columnist Scott Fish (#41) and columnist and erstwhile League detractor Al Diamon (#43).
As interesting as this list of notables is, perhaps more intriguing are those Maine policymakers who were not included. The leaders of Maine's pro-abortion and anti-family lobbies were largely absent from the list. The Maine Council of Churches, EqualityMaine, the Maine Women's Lobby, pro-abortion minister and author Stan Moody, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England were not represented on the power list.
If not for the Maine Civil Liberties Union Executive Director, Shenna Bellows, sneaking in at #47, the rankings would have been almost completely devoid of those whose job it is to expand abortion "rights" and harm Maine's traditional families. On the other hand, it would have been nice to see leaders of large Christian denominations in Maine (other than Roman Catholic) included on the list.
PolitickerME does a good job in reporting on all things political in Maine. We thank them for this acknowledgment and for the informative journalism they provide to politically-minded Mainers.
Mike Heath, Christian Civic League (of Maine)
"Heath is the lightning rod in Maine politics. If it is controversial, then the chances are pretty good Heath is somewhere in the mix. His involvement in many of the social issues that enter into the political sphere are well known and well documented. Love or hate him, he is a force in Maine politics."
