At least our crooked politicians are honest about it.

Baraboo alderman, charged with shoplifting, still running for Mayor.

Move over, Illinois!

It’s a pretty safe bet that if Michael Cone is elected Mayor of Baraboo he won’t be celebrating with a victory cigar. After all, he’s admitted to stealing cigars from a local store.

Michael Cone has a simple way of describing his actions. “Stupid mistake.”

He’s charged with four counts of misdemeanor retail theft for stealing cigars out of the humidor at a Baraboo grocery store.

At least he can make light of it!

He says he sold some and gave some away. His friends were shocked when they learned they had smoked stolen goods. “They said, you gotta be kidding. No, that’s how I got ‘em. You don’t think I’d buy you a cigar just to buy you a cigar do you?”

What a kneeslapper!

You’ve also gotta love this line from the local paper’s story:

“Yeah,” he (Cone) said. “I don’t smoke, that’s what the stupid part is.”

Um…no, I don’t think that was the stupid part.

Cone asked the city for forgiveness, so I forgive him. I hope he can get things turned around for himself as a private citizen. But I sure won’t vote for him.