First openly gay gubernatorial chief of staff calling it quits

[Ian David]

December 22, 2006
First openly gay gubernatorial chief of staff calling it quits

LANSING -- While Gov. Jennifer Granholm prepares for her second term, her openly gay chief of staff, John Burchett, will be packing up his bags.

"I did what I set out to do," Burchett said of his 15-month tenure as the nation's first openly gay chief of staff. "I came to Lansing to help the governor direct government through what we knew would be a year of great challenge and opportunity."

Granholm issued a statement saying her administration will miss his leadership.

"Though I knew John intended his teture to be shortlived, it will be no less painful to see him leave our team," Granholm said.

Before working as Granholm's chief of staff, Burchett, 44, ran the governor's Washington, D.C., office.

More:
http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2006/12/first-openly-gay-gubernatorial-chief.html

[Skinner]

1. Oh, shit! I know that guy!

Or, I knew that guy. I didn't know he was Granholm's chief of staff!

[LeftCoast]

2. Seems odd that he's leaving so quickly

Reading the article, he doesn't even have another job to go to. Wish I knew more of the back story...