A complaint was filed with the Vernon County District Attorney’s office and Wisconsin Government Accountability Board concerning an advertisement run before the April 1 general election.

Vernon County District Attorney Timothy Gaskell said on Tuesday that he has turned the matter over to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department for an investigation. Once the investigation is complete, he will then “make a final determination if criminal charges are warranted.”

Tom Wilson, a candidate for county board, said he filed the complaint “on behalf of several candidates” who were not supported in an advertisement placed in the March 26 edition of the La Farge Episcope and March 27 Vernon County Broadcaster by “Citizens for Agriculture and Friends of the Environment (CAFE).” The ad was purchased by Jim Mlsna of rural Hillsboro, but did not state his name in the ad itself, which is an alleged breech of state statues. Also, CAFE is not registered on the State Government Accountability Board’s list of active political action committees, a press release from Wilson said.

An Internet search for information on the group Citizens for Agriculture and Friends of the Environment could turn up no reference to the group prior to the placement of the advertisement on March 27.

On Tuesday, Jim Mlsna said CAFE formed in December and had since had three organizational meetings. He said the group has 25 members and he is a member of the board of directors and is acting as treasurer.

He said the fact that his name wasn’t included on the ad was an “error of omission.”

“No, I didn’t know we needed a name on the ad, but we sure have learned,” he said.

Wilson, in the press release said, “It is just too bad the entire election has been tainted by Mlsna’s actions.”