Thomas J. Ellis
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jay "Tom" Ellis is a Pennsylvania public finance attorney. He served several terms as County Commissioner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
, one of the largest counties in Pennsylvania, before being dropped from the ticket during an intra-party feud. An ally of controversial Republican National Committeeman Bob Asher, he is a prominent figure in the Pennsylvania Republican Party
.
in 1982. He earned a law degree
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
in 1985, where he was Editor of University of Pennsylvania Law Review
. An special counsel with Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll
in Philadelphia, he handles public finance and higher education legal issues. Specifically, his legal works focuses on facilitating tax-exempt financing projects for local governments and municipal authorities. He also manages the firm's lobbying on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
. In 2001, he was appointed as a board member of SEPTA.
He was first elected as a County Commissioner in Montgomery County
in 2003 as runningmate with Jim Matthews. He was chair of the County Commissioner's Board from 2006 through 2008.
In 2008, he was the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania Treasurer
. He was endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, whose editorial board praised his "good credentials" and his "interesting ideas" on campaign finance reform
and for his plans to improve Pennsylvania's college tuition savings program. During the campaign, he made a campaign promise not to pursue political ambitions beyond the Treasuer's position. Democrat Robert McCord
outspent Ellis significantly in the race. He lost the election to McCord by a significant margin.
Two sources familiar with the complaint said Ellis threatened Bradley's job and that one e-mail warned her that "you do not want to be my enemy." Under an EOO agreement, Ellis is forbidden to have any contact with Bradley, who was hired in July 2007 when Ellis served as chairman of the county commissioners.
Montgomery County commissioners were advised of the accusation in a closed-door meeting. Shortly afterwards, solicitor Barry M. Miller confirmed that Ellis violating the agreement restrictions and allegedly tried to contact Bradley again by phone when he learned the commissioners had been briefed. Ellis denies contacting Bradley.
Asked to respond to the allegations in the complaint, Ellis responded by e-mail, stating, "Any comment would have to come from Bev Jackson as I can't violate Marina's confidentiality. Can tell you case was closed without consequence?"
However, Ellis, releasing a letter Monday evening that he sent Saturday to county Chief Operating Officer Robert W. Graf, denies violating the agreement. The letter, in part, states: "As for Ms. Bradley and myself, that case was amicably closed April 1 and never violated by either party. As I told Ms. Jackson, I did mistakenly dial Ms. Bradley on her cell when trying to call someone with a very close number and I dialed too quickly...after four years, it was an old habit. Nothing was said and I immediately hung up when I realized my mistake. That happened one time in a month. I have said nothing to Ms. Bradley nor seen her in or out of the county workplace."
When asked if he would call for the treasurer’s resignation, Montgomery County commissioner Joe Hoeffel
said he was still looking into the matter. "I’m waiting to get more information from our staff,” he said. “I’m very troubled by it.”
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
, one of the largest counties in Pennsylvania, before being dropped from the ticket during an intra-party feud. An ally of controversial Republican National Committeeman Bob Asher, he is a prominent figure in the Pennsylvania Republican Party
Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania
The Republican Party of Pennsylvania is based in Harrisburg in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is affiliated with the Republican Party of the United States.-Founding:...
.
Education and legal career
He earned a degree from the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in 1982. He earned a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Pennsylvania Law School
University of Pennsylvania Law School
The University of Pennsylvania Law School, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the law school of the University of Pennsylvania. A member of the Ivy League, it is among the oldest and most selective law schools in the nation. It is currently ranked 7th overall by U.S. News & World Report,...
in 1985, where he was Editor of University of Pennsylvania Law Review
University of Pennsylvania Law Review
The University of Pennsylvania Law Review is a law review focusing on legal issues, published by an organization of second and third year J.D. students at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. It is the oldest law journal in the United States, having been published continuously since 1852...
. An special counsel with Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll
Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll
Ballard Spahr LLP is a large American law firm. Established in 1885 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it has grown to become one of the city's largest firms.The firm employs more than 500 lawyers in 13 offices nationwide...
in Philadelphia, he handles public finance and higher education legal issues. Specifically, his legal works focuses on facilitating tax-exempt financing projects for local governments and municipal authorities. He also manages the firm's lobbying on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Political career
From 1990-2002, he served as a member of the Cheltenham Township Board of CommissionersCheltenham Township, Pennsylvania
Cheltenham Township is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. Although it retains the word "Township" in its official name, it has been governed by a home rule charter since 1977 and is therefore not subject to the Pennsylvania Township Code. The population was...
. In 2001, he was appointed as a board member of SEPTA.
He was first elected as a County Commissioner in Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
in 2003 as runningmate with Jim Matthews. He was chair of the County Commissioner's Board from 2006 through 2008.
2008 election and sexual abuse scandal
In the 2008 election, Ellis was dropped from the Republican ticket because of an incident with former fiancee Lisa Whalen who filed a protection from abuse order against him. As a result, Ellis was unable to secure the county GOP's endorsement for a second four-year term in 2007, resulting in a bitter split in the county GOP. Whalen subsequently withdrew that request. While Ellis denied physically abusing Whalen as she alleged in her petition, he did publicly apologize to her at a county commissioners meeting. Ellis unsuccessfully attempted to obtain the Republican nomination independent of the party apparatus, losing to Bruce Castor and Jim Matthews.In 2008, he was the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania Treasurer
Pennsylvania Treasurer
The Pennsylvania Treasurer is the head of the Pennsylvania Department of the Treasury, which is the custodian of virtually all the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's funds....
. He was endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, whose editorial board praised his "good credentials" and his "interesting ideas" on campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform
Campaign finance reform is the common term for the political effort in the United States to change the involvement of money in politics, primarily in political campaigns....
and for his plans to improve Pennsylvania's college tuition savings program. During the campaign, he made a campaign promise not to pursue political ambitions beyond the Treasuer's position. Democrat Robert McCord
Robert McCord
Robert M. "Rob" McCord is the Treasurer of Pennsylvania.- Biography :Born on March 5, 1959, Robert Maxwell McCord was born in California. When he was 10 he moved to Ardmore PA and later attended Lower Merion High School. After graduating from Lower Merion High, McCord took a year off and then went...
outspent Ellis significantly in the race. He lost the election to McCord by a significant margin.
2010 Sexual Harassment Charges
On April 13, 2010, Montgomery County Web editor Marina Bradley accused Ellis of threatening her job. Bradley, who had recently broke off her relationship with Ellis, alleged that Ellis made multiple phone calls to Bradley, including some to her county office, and sent multiple e-mails to herTwo sources familiar with the complaint said Ellis threatened Bradley's job and that one e-mail warned her that "you do not want to be my enemy." Under an EOO agreement, Ellis is forbidden to have any contact with Bradley, who was hired in July 2007 when Ellis served as chairman of the county commissioners.
Montgomery County commissioners were advised of the accusation in a closed-door meeting. Shortly afterwards, solicitor Barry M. Miller confirmed that Ellis violating the agreement restrictions and allegedly tried to contact Bradley again by phone when he learned the commissioners had been briefed. Ellis denies contacting Bradley.
Asked to respond to the allegations in the complaint, Ellis responded by e-mail, stating, "Any comment would have to come from Bev Jackson as I can't violate Marina's confidentiality. Can tell you case was closed without consequence?"
However, Ellis, releasing a letter Monday evening that he sent Saturday to county Chief Operating Officer Robert W. Graf, denies violating the agreement. The letter, in part, states: "As for Ms. Bradley and myself, that case was amicably closed April 1 and never violated by either party. As I told Ms. Jackson, I did mistakenly dial Ms. Bradley on her cell when trying to call someone with a very close number and I dialed too quickly...after four years, it was an old habit. Nothing was said and I immediately hung up when I realized my mistake. That happened one time in a month. I have said nothing to Ms. Bradley nor seen her in or out of the county workplace."
When asked if he would call for the treasurer’s resignation, Montgomery County commissioner Joe Hoeffel
Joe Hoeffel
Joseph Merrill "Joe" Hoeffel III is an American politician. A Democrat, he is currently a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, having previously served from 1992 to 1998....
said he was still looking into the matter. "I’m waiting to get more information from our staff,” he said. “I’m very troubled by it.”