GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO DECIDE IF IT WILL REMOVE INDICTED COUNCILMAN

ATLANTIC BEACH - The governor's office could decide this week if an
Atlantic Beach councilman recently indicted on federal drug charges will be
temporarily removed from his post. Gov. Jim Hodges can suspend Vander More
Gore until the outcome of his trial, spokeswoman Cortney Owings said. Gore
has served on the council for eight years. Town Manager Carolyn Montgomery
said the town will go along with whatever Hodges' office decides to do.
Gore, 66; his sons Jeffrey Lee Gore, 32, and Vander Keith Gore, 41; and
Anthony Pridgen, 26, were arrested last week on drug charges. They have all
pleaded innocent. A fifth man, Andy Keel, 29, turned himself in to police
on Friday. The men were indicted June 19 on charges of conspiracy to
distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and more than 5 kilograms of
cocaine. The government alleges they made $5 million in drug sales since
1988. According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Vander More
Gore was arrested on charges of cocaine distribution in 1986 and 1990. He
was charged with crack distribution in 1988. SLED said there is no record
of him having been convicted in any of the cases. The 1990 charges were
dismissed.