Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore took the helm as NACo’s new president on July 15, during the association’s Annual Business Meeting held at the Tampa Convention Center in Hillsborough County, Florida.

Surrounded by his family, Gore’s swearing-in marked a pivotal moment in his career, leading the NACo executive committee alongside First Vice President Judge J.D. Clark of Wise County, Texas, Second Vice President Commissioner George Dunlap of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and Immediate Past President Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire of Ramsey County, Minnesota.

In his inaugural address, Gore emphasized the theme of his presidency: “We the counties, we the leaders, we the future.” He underscored the importance of community and collaboration, stating, “As we walked in here this morning, I looked at my kids, Opal and Jacob, and said, ‘You know how there’s all kinds of problems in the world, right? Well, you see all those people? They are the ones fixing things. These are the ones fighting for us… all of us.’”

Gore’s message resonated with the audience of approximately 3,000 county officials from across the nation, as he called for unity and resilience amidst today’s challenges.

He spoke passionately about the role of local government in navigating disruptive times, saying, “The only way through the storm is through the damn storm. The only way through the mess is to embrace the mess.”

Joining Gore on the executive committee are newly elected regional representatives Tammy Tincher of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, and Supervisor Kurt Gibbs of Marathon County, Wisconsin, along with Joe Briggs from Cascade County, Montana, representing the West Region, and Commissioner Ron Berry of Roane County, Tennessee, representing the Southern Region.

We at MACo would like to issue a sincere congratulations to all the members of the newly elected executive committee.

Click here to see the NACo press release

Click here to learn more about James Gore