AUGUSTA — Republican Sen. Mike Willette of Presque Isle, who has been the subject of controversy caused by inflammatory Facebook posts he made about President Barack Obama, resigned Wednesday from his co-chairmanship of the Legislature’s State and Local Government Committee.

Rachel Talbot Ross, president of the Portland chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, called for Willette to resign or be removed from the State and Local Government Committee during a March 20 news conference at the State House. She and others also called for an ethics probe but stopped short of calling for Willette to give up the Maine Senate seat that he won in November.

Willette’s history of disturbing Facebook posts — most of which centered on his scathing criticisms of President Barack Obama — was revealed earlier this month by BDN blogger and Democratic activist Mike Tipping. On March 9, Willette apologized for his remarks in a speech on the Senate floor, but that did little to calm the uproar.

Senate President Mike Thibodeau, R-Winterport, has condemned Willette’s comments multiple times but to date has not taken any action against Willette. Thibodeau declined to participate in a meeting last week with Talbot Ross and Democratic leaders, stating that he would meet with the NAACP — for a second time — but not with Democrats present.

Willette, who was elected to his Senate seat last year after a two-year absence from the Legislature, represents more than 50 towns, plantations and unorganized territories in Aroostook and Penobscot counties.