Lacey Pols Stay Mum On Indicted OC GOP Chairman

Lacey mayor Tim McDonald and township attorney Lauren Staiger refused comment on how Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore's indictment on charges of tax evasion would affect his relationships with Lacey politicians.

Gilmore was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of tax evasion totaling more than $1.5 million, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday. McDonald told reporters later Thursday that he wanted to wait for more facts before commenting on Gilmore.

McDonald told Patch he had a quick phone conversation with Gilmore on Friday to make plans to speak to him more.

"I plan on trying to speak to him again or meeting with him later this week," McDonald said.

"I'm still waiting for more information," McDonald said. "We are concerned about it, but we need more information before we announce anything that we may or may not do."

Steiger is an associate of Gilmore's law firm who represents towns including Lacey and Berkeley, according to Ocean County Politics. She declined comment to reporters.

"I do not, it's in his personal capacity, I have no comment," she told Ocean County Politics.

Read more: Ocean County GOP Chair Gilmore Indicted On $1M Tax Evasion: Feds

George Gilmore at the 2019 Ocean County reorganization meeting, photo via Ocean County public information staff