We Don't Need No Stinkin' Badgers

This week is the 40th anniversary of the Watergate break-in. Your LakeCountyEye was just a cub blogger in short-pants, back in the day, but remembers how what began as a "third-rate burglary" brought down a President. Another third-rate scandal now percolating in Lake County bears some notable similarities to Watergate and has the potential to bring down other high-ranking elected officials.

What began as an unannounced junket to Racine on June 5 ended with a formal complaint filed with Wisconsin election officials against Lake County Clerk Willard Helander. Helander, acting as a poll-watcher in Wisconsin, was accused by a voter of intimidation. Like the Watergate break-in, the story would have been lost and forgotten had it not moved steadily up the media food chain.

The complaint against Helander first saw the light of day thanks to a sharpeyed Wisconsin blogger ...

Racine Voter Suppressor Turns Out To Be Illinois County Clerk

The story was picked up by some local blogs, including yours truly ...

Voter Power Just A Button

Bad Girls

Then the Daily Herald noticed ...

Complaint filed against Lake Co. clerk — in Wisconsin

And now sleeping giant Chicago Tribune contacted the complainant, Nicala Aiello, and other witnesses ...

Michael Haas, a Wisconsin state Government Accountability Board lawyer, said "it's not up to the observers to enforce" the law. Rather, they're supposed to bring any concerns to the polling place's chief inspector. The chief inspector for that polling place, Charita Itson, recalls that it was a busy day in the small room. She said Aiello has voted in past elections without incident and that she would have had no problem with Aiello wearing the button. Though Wisconsin allows poll observers from out of state, "what does Illinois have to do with Wisconsin anyway?" Itson asked.
Wisconsin election complaint has Illinois connection

At this trajectory, informed sources expect to see Willard Helander's photo in the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal by the end of the month.

As it turned out, the Watergate break-in proved to be just the tip of the iceberg. Watch this blog for the latest developments of BadgerGate.