The mysteriously multiplying recall committees behind the failed effort to oust Elmwood superivsor Deri Smith continue to attract attention from state officials and local media.

As first reported by the Post, mailings to Elmwood residents were sent out over the names of at least two and possibly three different organizations, all of which shared the same street address. Opponents of the recall suspect that the multiple committees where intended to avoid the requirement that any individual committee spending more than $1000 report on its finances, including the sources of its donations.

Contacted for this Record-Eagle story, Ellie Lessard, who is listed as chairperson of one of the recall committees, denied any wrongdoing.

"There are two committees because there was a group of people interested in seeing her (Smith) recalled who didn't want to be part of ECHO," she said. "Some were interested in the recall for different reasons." As the Record-Eagle notes, however, the mailings from the two groups contain whole paragraphs of identical content.

The final anti-Smith mailing did differ from the earlier pieces in that it charged her with thwarting pro-development interests in the township. Developers have been prominent contributors to earlier campaigns by Smith's political opponents in the township.

Secretary of State spokesperson Kelly Chesney said the department would be reviewing the complaints against the recall forces.