The Record-Eagle ran another editorial today concerning the apparent hanky-panky in the unsuccessful attempt to recall Elmwood supervisor Deri Smith first reported by the Post. They suggest that investigators bring "a big flashlight" to investigate various inconsistencies and rule-bending in the campaign committees which were behind the recall.

Four mailings critical of Smith were sent to Elmwood residents during the campaign from three different committee names. All three committees listed the same street address in Elmwood.

Elmwood Citizens for Honest Government (ECHO) was listed as the source of the first mailing in support of the recall. There is no registration for the group at the county clerk's office, as required by law. A second mailing was sent by Elmwood Citizens for Honest Officials (ECHO), whose treasurer is registered as Ellie Lessard. The third and fourth mailings came from the Elmwood Township Alliance, whose treasurer is Ellie's husband, former township harbormaster Charles Lessard.

According to the Record-Eagle, Lessard claims she never heard of the Elmwood Citizens for Honest Government group. However, the group's mailing address is the same as that on the other mailings, Lessard's home, and the content is largely the same as the other pieces.

Critics suspect that the multiple committees were organized in order to evade the requirements of campaign finance law, which allows groups spending less than $1000 to dispense with reporting on their finances, including donors. The arrangement made it possible for the recall forces to shield the names of its financial backers, but now state officials are questioning its legality.