Douglas County District Attorney Mark Fruehauf runs an office whose official mission statement promises to pursue justice ethically, respect victims, partner with law enforcement, and earn the public’s trust. Sounds noble enough — the kind of thing you’d expect framed on the courthouse wall next to the flag and a motivational poster about integrity. But critics around Superior say the real-world record sometimes reads like a legal version of “move along, nothing to see here.” Fruehauf’s office employs former Superior police officer Chad LaLor, a hire that raised eyebrows locally given the controversy surrounding his policing career before becoming a prosecutor. Then there’s City Council President Lindsey “I Love Grain Elevators” Graskey, who violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law — a rule designed to keep government decisions out in the open. The DA’s office declined to pursue consequences, leaving many residents wondering if accountability works differently when you sit in the right chair at city hall.

And the list of head-scratchers doesn’t stop there. Former Superior School Board member Steven Stupak reportedly lived in another state while serving on the board — something most voters would consider a pretty basic disqualification. Yet no charges followed. Residents also remember the devastating case involving former Superior police Sgt. Greg Swanson, who had worked closely with the DA’s office before a drunk-driving crash that wiped out half a family. The DA’s mission statement highlights “positive partnerships with law enforcement,” which is important for prosecution — but critics argue that in a town the size of Superior, those partnerships can start looking less like cooperation and more like a members-only club. Because at the end of the day, public trust in the justice system doesn’t come from a mission statement on a county website — it comes from proving the rules apply to everyone, whether they carry a badge, hold office, or just happen to be a regular citizen standing in front of the judge.

“It’s a big club… and you ain’t in it.” -George Carlin