No legal action will be taken against a group that helped organize an unsuccessful recall campaign in Elmwood Township, according to a letter from the Michigan Department of State obtained by the Leelanau Post.

Writing concerning the Elmwood Township Alliance (ETA) the letter says that "the evidence submitted to the Department leaves the distinct impression that ETA [one of the recall groups] was created in a deliberate attempt to evade the disclosure requirements" of the campaign finance act (MCFA) and that its actions "may have violated the spirit of the law." Nevertheless, the writer, Melissa Materman of the Legal and Regulatory Service, concludes that "the disclosure purposes of the [campaign finance law] were largely met" and that no further action will be taken. A fee was assessed for late filing of one of the groups.

At stake were three committees organized to lobby for the recall of Elmwood Supervisor Deri Smith: Elmwood Citizens for Honest Government (ECHG), Elmwood Citizens for Honest Officials (ECHO), and Elmwood Township Alliance (ETA). Critics, including the Leelanau Post, charged that at least one of the groups was created as a means to hide the names those who financed the campaign.

Contacted for a comment, the complainant, Nancy Doughty of Elmwood, said that she had "gained a new appreciation for grass roots democracy and our state officials." She said that she was satisfied that the late fee was assessed and that the recall organizers were "cautioned that the Department will take appropriate enforcement action if future violations of the MCFA occur."