It now appears that one of the current Republican commissioners is crank-calling the Democratic candidates. Are the Republicans being driven mad by the notion that the Democrats might seize control of the county? To think that we have one more month of this soap opera.

I’m sorry to be taking the story from a campaign website, but this story is too juicy not to share.

In the case of Montgomery County Commissioner Tom Ellis, misery apparently wants company.

Ellis, deprived of a chance to run for county commissioner this year by the Montgomery County Republican Committee, which apparently was worried that his unwanted notoriety a few months back for domestic problems would be a political liability, has taken to calling Democratic Commissioner Ruth Damsker at home and leaving voicemails detailing what he believes is bad political news for Damsker.

In one such message, Ellis brags about the fact that Bob Asher, who was convicted and served prison time of political corruption, “is fully engaged” in raising money for Jim Matthews’ campaign. In the message to Damsker, Ellis adds, “enjoy your last months, I guess it’s over for you.”

Ellis left this message within hours after he, Matthews and Damsker had had a heated debate about policy issues.

“You can almost see him rubbing his hands together like a little kid on Christmas morning,” said Joe Hoeffel, Damsker’s running mate for county commissioner. “It is a little sad that the chairman of the county commissioners and a respected lawyer has to appear to be so petty.”

“On another level, Ellis’ comments are ridiculous and unacceptable,” said Hoeffel. “Here you have a Republican commissioner bragging to the Democratic commissioner about the other Republican Commissioner’s cozy relationship with a fundraiser, who is a convicted felon. In short, you have Republican politics in Montgomery County.”

The voice mail Ellis left for Damsker can be heard at this web address:
http://votedamskerhoeffel.com/free_details.asp?id=50.