Crime & Safety

Are Republicans Bad Sports In RSM?

A man's car is desecrated in conservative Rancho Santa Margarita, most likely for showing his political pride on the bumper.

The way Bill Ellis figures it, Republicans were the culprits.

A senior citizen, Ellis spent about 16 hours at City Hall in Rancho Santa Margarita on Tuesday serving as a volunteer as its poll inspector.

At one point, he said, there were probably a hundred people in line. Once, there were as few as two—conveniently allowing pollworkers to have lunch. The noontime rush hit early, at 11 a.m.

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And when all the paperwork was done, when the Council Chambers at City Hall was back in order, Ellis went to his car only to find it desecrated with an expletive that begins with the letter F, followed by the letter "U" to form a two-word sentence that is commonly accompanied by a crude hand gesture.

"After spending 16 hours helping my fellow residents vote," Ellis said, "I was greeted by this 'greeting' on my window."

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Ellis hadn't made any notable enemies during the day, where he's supposed to remain politically neutral. He oversaw the voting of nearly 700 Rancho Santa Margarita residents.

But he figured that someone didn't like the bumper stickers on his car, which was parked all day in the Kohl's lot.

Ellis' political colors are blue, and he had seven bumper stickers proclaiming his pride in the Democratic party.

He called the incident "somewhat disturbing."

He did catch a break. Even though it appeared that a message on the back driver's side window had been interrupted—perhaps someone came across the culprit in mid-message—it wasn't done in ink or anything permanent.

"It seemed to be a substance like frosting," Ellis said.

Probably icing that went unused on a particular victory cake. Across the street from City Hall—and Kohl's—was a Mitt Romney/Republican office.


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