Ellis has been a bond lawyer at Ballard Spahr and comes well-funded; his finance chair is Ballard chairman Arthur Makadon. Makadon, who usually supports Democrats, has been raising money for Ellis and hosted a fundraiser for him at the firm last week. The event raked in some $70,000. Guests included Blue Cross executives Christopher Cashman and Christopher Butler, GOP benefactor Bob Asher, SEPTA general manager Joe Casey, Montco Commissioner Jim Matthews and Ballard lawyer Ken Jarin, husband of Wiessmann, who also attended.We wonder why Tom Ellis would welcome Matthews, who has tried to undermine Ellis' race by allowing Democrats to use county resources to do opposition research against Ellis' candidacy for State Treasurer.
Complicating matters is Matthews' buddy Joe Hoeffel, the Democrat commissioner who has been using commission meetings as a forum to attack Ellis' performance as a commissioner, in hopes of damaging Ellis politically. The chairman's gavel (so coveted by Matthews that he had to make a deal with the Democrats to obtain it) has never been used to silence Hoeffel's prepared attacks. However, Matthews did once try to use it against Ellis to prevent him from defending himself at a meeting where Hoeffel engaged him.
At some point Ellis will have to make a choice all Republican candidates this year must make: Are they Republicans or are they friends of Jim Matthews? Because you can't be both anymore.
So, the question is this, Tom...besides losing the new-found respect you have achieved in Montgomery County (since your supposed "divorce" from King James the Turd) are you willing to be the next victim of... "the Matthews Effect"?
It's not a tough call...
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