Ocean GOP feud continues to escalate

Infighting among Ocean County Republicans is escalating rapidly after the new county chairman, George Gilmore, filed a lawsuit asking last week seeking a return of emails and other record connected to party officials and his predecessor.

“As a convicted liar who suffers from an admitted mental illness, and someone in severe financial distress who managed to escape federal prison only due to his political connections, I opposed Mr. Gilmore’s return as county chairman,” said Assemblyman Greg McGuckin (R-Toms River).  “Nevertheless, following his 13 vote win, for the good of our party, I was prepared to support his efforts to unite the OCGOP and work together to elect republicans at all levels of government.”

But McGuckin no longer appears optimistic that Ocean County Republicans can heal the wounds of last month’s party leadership election.

“With the filing of this nonsensical lawsuit it is obvious that Mr. Gilmore lied again,” McGuckin said.  “His paranoia has caused him to try and purge from our organization, those he perceives as disloyal to him and will have grave consequences for the future of the OCGOP.

Another former Gilmore all, former Ocean County GOP Finance Chairman Jerry Dasti, accused Gilmore of seeking to destroy the state’s premier Republican machine.

“It is on one hand a shame for the embittered George Gilmore to air this fabricated ‘dirty linen’ in public, but it is an entirely different level of indignance to simultaneously attempt to destroy our proud organization,” Dasti said.  “He will fail.  The mentally ill tax cheat must not be allowed to succeed.

But Gilmore pushed back on comments made by his two political foes.

“Dasti and McGuckin cannot deny the facts so they resort to personal attacks.  This is not about me — it is about our Republican Party and victory in November,” Gilmore said.  “It is abundantly clear that Frank Holman, Jerry Dasti, and Greg McGuckin have resorted to personal attacks because when they are forced to answer for their improper actions, they have no defense.”

Gilmore has criticized McGuckin, the Toms River township attorney, for his alleged role in using party funds to investigate questions of Councilman Justin Lamb’s residency.

“This failed investigation was for his own personal benefit, a fact which he cannot deny,” Gilmore stated.  “The Republican Finance Committee hiring private investigators to follow Republican elected officials around is just plain wrong.”

But it’s not clear if the probe was inappropriate, since Lamb’s wife, Ashley, a Toms River school board member, was Gilmore’s off-the-line candidate for county commissioner in the June 8 primary election.

Also uncertain is the relationship between the Ocean GOP’s decision to look at Lamb’s residency and a grand jury subpoena filed on June 15 ordering Toms River to “provide any and all election filings for all 2021 Toms River council primary and general election candidates.”

“Please include, specifically but not limited to, all documentation, eligibility requirements, residency requirements, and certifications, petitions and submissions, for all candidates who applied and/or were certified eligible to participate as a candidate in the 2021 Toms River town council election cycle,” the subpoena from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office of Special Investigation stated.”

Part of the backdrop to the current conflict is next year’s Republican primary in the 10th legislative district – depending on retirements, McGuckin is expected to run for either the State Senate or re-election to the Assembly – and Gilmore’s likely desire to oust Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and replace him with a political ally.

Dasti  said he will demand that Gilmore and other plaintiffs dismiss “this frivolous litigation” by the end of September.

“A failure to do so will result in my motion for a dismissal and assessment against all of them for attorney fees and costs I have incurred,” Dasti stated.  “I will not allow him to destroy me, my family, my law firm, or the Ocean County Republican Organization.”

A prominent Ocean County attorney and McGuckin’s law partner, Dasti said he’s ready to file a counterclaim against Gilmore.

“I want him to need to testify under oath as to whether he has used contributions from our supporters to the organization accounts for his personal benefit,” he stated.  “I believe we already know the answer to that question. But I want to hear his answer under oath.”

Still, Gilmore wants to now if Dasti agrees with McGuckin on the investigation of Lamb.

“Dasti can now correct his prior inaction and now tell McGuckin to write a check now and pay back the Ocean County Republican Organization for the cost of the investigation,” Gilmore said.

Part of Gilmore’s lawsuit seeks a return of campaign contributions made to several candidates, including McGuckin, on the day of the county chairman’s election.

“It is clear that George is simply mad because his predecessor made sure that money raised for candidates was donated to their campaigns before he could get his hands on it,” McGuckin said.  “While there were other campaigns who received funds, he chose to only sue me.  Why do you think that is?”

Gilmore is defending his decision to file a lawsuit.

“Every action we have taken since our successful election has been for the good of the Ocean County Republican Organization. I am confident that when our case is heard in court it will be successful,” Gilmore said.  “We now need to concentrate our efforts to re-elect Sheriff (Michael) Mastronardy and Commissioners (Virginia) Haines and (Jack) Kelly this November.”