ANNAPOLIS — Tensions flared this week between two Montgomery County lawmakers engaged in separate Democratic primaries that could portend a summer of bitter campaign rhetoric in the state's largest jurisdiction.

The dispute involving Sen. Jennie M. Forehand and Del. Saqib Ali included allegations of "Chicago-style intimidation tactics" and a series of "dirty tricks," according to characterizations by both legislators.

At issue is a telephone call that Ali (D-Dist. 39) of Germantown made to Forehand on April 24 in which the first-term delegate allegedly asked the longtime senator whether she planned to take sides in the race between him and Sen. Nancy J. King.

Ali said he has placed similar calls to numerous elected officials in Montgomery County to gauge their support.

But the two politicians recalled radically different versions of their conversation.

Forehand (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville said Ali suggested that she stay out of the District 39 race or else he would contribute a large sum of money to Forehand's Democratic opponent, former Del. Cheryl Kagan.

Ali contended that he never mentioned Kagan or donating money to her campaign if Forehand endorsed King (D-Dist. 39) of Montgomery Village.

"Anyone can fire off an angry letter saying this is what you said in a phone conversation — I could do that, too — but it's not verifiable," Ali said in an interview Thursday.

The sharply worded letter — sent on Forehand's campaign letterhead and dated April 28 — which was obtained by The Gazette makes several charges.

"For someone who spends so much time talking about transparency in politics, your brazen and fumbling attempt at political coercion would make Richard Daley's most hardened ward heelers blush," the letter reads.

"In my years of involvement in local and state politics, I have never received a threat, much less one such as you delivered on Saturday. Corrosive tactics such as these are precisely why so many Americans are losing faith in the political process, and are increasingly skeptical of its potential as a vehicle for progressive change."

Ali, who denied that he made any threats, suspected King's allies of being behind Forehand's response.

"There's a pattern where my opponent and her surrogates go ahead and say things about me that are untrue or are false allegations," he said.

According to Ali, the brief telephone conversation between him and Forehand was amiable and the letter "goes far beyond the pale by making outlandish, completely unverifiable and frankly unbelievable claims."

"Never could I have imagined that such a chat would be twisted into the kinds of vague allegations that have resulted," he added in an e-mail statement to The Gazette.

King said Forehand notified her of the phone call from Ali, but that she had not received a copy of her letter.

"I just decided that I would stay out of it," King said. "I'm more focused on running my race and not concentrating on what my opponent is doing."

Kagan said she found it bizarre that Forehand sent her a copy of the letter. Neither King nor Ali has sought her support in their race.

"I'm not any part of this conversation except for my commitment to transparency and campaign finance reform," she said.

In an interview, Ali accused Forehand of killing one of his bills during the recently concluded General Assembly session — a measure requiring motorists to reduce their speed and prepare to yield to other vehicles when they approach a malfunctioning traffic signal. He also alleged that King's allies made baseless claims in a January story in The Gazette that raised questions about his ethics.

Ali believes it is an orchestrated attempt to undercut his campaign.

"As we move forward with this campaign, there may be more smears and personal insults directed at me from other surrogates doing my opponent's bidding," he said in the written statement.

He promised instead to focus on issues such as creating jobs, improving public education, cleaning up the environment and making government more transparent.

But Forehand said she was put off by Ali's tone, and noted that the decision to write the stern rebuke was hers alone.

"It seemed to cross the line of civility among colleagues," she said of the telephone conversation.

Regardless of who wins the District 39 race, Forehand said she wants to have a professional relationship if she also receives another four years. Despite the spat, she said it won't change her decision to stay out of other races.

"I've got enough to do with my own," Forehand said.

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