State Tax Lien Filed Against Garden Society Linked to Sonoma County Supervisor's Family

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A newly filed state tax lien shows that Old River Road, Inc. / The Garden Society — a company associated with Erin Gore, the sister-in-law of Sonoma County Supervisor James Gore — owes more than $49,000 in unpaid state employment taxes, penalties, and interest. The lien places a legal claim on all of the business's assets, raising public-interest questions about Supervisor Gore's involvement in county cannabis policy decisions despite these family connections.

Why it matters

The lien is significant because it involves a business tied to the immediate family of a sitting county supervisor, Supervisor James Gore has participated in county cannabis-policy votes despite longstanding public questions about whether his family's cannabis-industry ties create conflicts of interest, and the nearly $50,000 tax delinquency indicates potential financial distress or compliance issues within a cannabis-adjacent family business.

The details

The lien, filed by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) on November 19, 2025, shows that Old River Road, Inc. / The Garden Society owes $33,838.20 in unpaid taxes, $10,222.81 in penalties, and $5,034.75 in interest, for a total of $49,095.76. The lien places a legal claim on all real and personal property belonging to the business until the debt is paid.

• The lien was filed with the California Secretary of State on November 19, 2025.
• The tax period covered by the lien is April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

What’s next

The state will continue to pursue collection of the unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest from Old River Road, Inc. / The Garden Society until the debt is resolved.