Lacey Twp. Continuing Relationship With Gilmore Firm: Mayor

LACEY, N.J. — A jury found Ocean County Republican boss George Gilmore guilty on three counts Wednesday in the federal tax evasion case. Lacey Township will maintain its relationship with township attorney Lauren Staiger, an associate of Gilmore's law firm.

Lacey Mayor Timothy McDonald also said Gilmore and his family "are in our thoughts as they go through this difficult time."

McDonald released the following statement to Patch on Thursday morning:

"On behalf of the Township Committee of the Township of Lacey, this was not the outcome we had hoped for. Mr. Gilmore and his family are in our thoughts as they go through this difficult time.

"Lacey Township will continue to move forward with Ms. Staiger as the township attorney. She has been our township attorney for 8 years and she will continue as such."

Gilmore is an equity partner and shareholder in the law firm Gilmore and Monahan, P.A. Among the firm's clients are Berkeley Township, Lacey Township, Little Egg Harbor, Plumsted and Seaside Heights. Gilmore was just named township attorney in Howell in 2019 as well.

The jury verdict came following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton federal court.

Gilmore, 69, was indicted in January by a federal grand jury on six counts in the case: income tax evasion for calendar years 2013, 2014, and 2015; two counts of filing false tax returns for calendar years 2013 and 2014; two counts of failing to collect, account for, and pay over payroll taxes for two quarters in 2016, and one making false statements on a 2015 loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said at the time.

Gilmore has been the chairman of the Republican Party in Ocean County since 1996 and has long been viewed as one of the most powerful political bosses in New Jersey. He was first reported to be under investigation in connection with the tax evasion charges in December 2016.

Two candidates seeking the Republican nomination for mayor in Toms River — Joseph Coronato and Maurice Hill — urged Gilmore to step down as County GOP chairman.

"As a former prosecutor, I have the utmost respect for our legal system," Coronato said in a statement released late Wednesday afternoon. "While I am deeply saddened by this news on a personal level and respect his constitutional right to appeal the verdict, I am hopeful George does what is best for the party and steps aside as chairman while he continues his legal fight."

"Mr. Gilmore's insistence on holding onto his positions of public trust despite being convicted by a jury of his peers does not serve the best interest of the people of Ocean County and the Republican Party," Hill said.

With reporting from Karen Wall/Patch

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