Racine Republican Campaign Items 'Disposed Of'

Racine County Republican materials used to setup local campaigns were accidentally thrown away, according to a police report. 

Racine County GOP Chairman Bill Folk discovered the items missing on Sept. 28. The materials, used to setup local Republicans' campaign office, were stored at Four Mile Storage, 4950 Memco Lane.  

The missing campaign items, which included electronic equipment, campaign signs, a desk and computers, according to a report by the . They were valued at $5,000. Some of the items had been donated while other items were purchased by the Racine County Republican Party, Folk said.

"My understanding was that Mr. Jensen found the door open," Folk said. "My concern is: why would you throw things out without contacting the owner of the unit? The storage unit up for sale was four down from ours."

The police report said the campaign materials were not stolen and described the incident as a civil matter. It appears they went missing due to a mistake stemming from an Aug. 27 auction at the storage facility. 

Donald Jensen, part owner of , told police he found the GOP campaign items strewn about the storage building, but didn’t see the unit open.

Jensen said he did see campaign signs and boxes, and a desk, but the company thought the materials were unwanted auction items and threw everything in the garbage.

When police asked if any of the items were saved, including computers and electronics, he said he didn’t have any of it.

Police told Folk the matter was not a theft and is now considered a civil matter.