Mike Costello, the owner of Costello’s Bar & Grill, has long been at odds with St. Paul City Council member Dave Thune. The Selby Ave. entrepreneur was a ringleader in opposing a smoking ban in bars and restaurants pushed by Thune. More recently he took issue with the Democrat’s participation in protests surrounding the Republican National Convention, prompting a profane response from the elected official.

Yesterday Thune told MnIndy that he suspected Costello was behind a purported plan to recall him from office. “I don’t want to accuse him,” Thune said. “But I’m pretty good at adding two and two.” Supporters of the city council member are holding a fundraiser Thursday night in response to the effort to oust him from office.

But Costello insists that he has no involvement with a recall campaign, nor has he heard of any such effort. “He can’t add two plus two because I have nothing to do with any recall,” Costello says. “I think he’s just trying to scam some money from his supporters.”