James Gore is a purpose-driven public servant that inspires community action. Serving his
home county in the heart of California’s Wine Country as 4th District Supervisor for the last 10 years, he has become a well-known champion for resiliency after leading the community through an unprecedented barrage of fires, floods, and drought, and engaging and empowering residents through recovery and rebuilding in the wake of disasters. James led efforts to secure
historic regional, state, and federal funding for emergency preparedness and infrastructure investments. He is also a key local and state leader on climate resiliency, affordable housing, solutions for homelessness, and behavioral health.

James spearheaded the creation of Sonoma County’s Office of Equity to take on the disparate impacts of COVID on underserved communities. He also, as President, led the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) through the pandemic with a multitude of statewide prevention and response actions. Working with other county leaders inspired him to run for leadership positions with National Association of Counties (NACo), for which he will serve as President for 2024-2025. He is currently Chair of the North Coast Resource Partnership, a seven-county, 30- tribe consortium. He has also previously served on the FEMA National Advisory Council and California State Wildfire & Forest Resiliency Task Force.

Prior to his election as County Supervisor, James served as a Presidential Appointee in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he led nationwide efforts to invest in rural communities and persistent poverty areas. James began his public service life as a volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps as an Agriculture/Natural Resources volunteer for two years in rural Bolivia, where he helped communities build water management and agricultural systems. James has a master’s degree in political management from George Washington University and bachelor’s degree in agribusiness from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

The Gore family has deep roots in Sonoma County going back several generations. James proudly hails from Healdsburg where he and his wife Elizabeth, co-founder of Hello Alice, are raising two children, Opal and Jacob.

JAMES GORE

4th District Supervisor, Sonoma CountyIncoming President, National Association of Counties (NACo)
Past President, California State Association of Counties (CSAC)