City Attorney L. Ashley “Ash” Smith will retire from the City of Gastonia effective March 1, 2025.
Smith joined the City as Staff Attorney in 1995, and was named Deputy City Attorney in 2000. He was appointed City Attorney in 2002. Under Smith’s leadership, the City Attorney’s Office has handled significant economic development projects including numerous downtown redevelopment projects, the creation and development of the Franklin Sports and Entertainment (FUSE) District and CaroMont Health Park, and many other complex transactions.
“Mr. Smith has been an integral part of city government for more than two decades. I have been fortunate to have a City Attorney assist me in my transition to Mayor as many Mayors and Council people have in the past. I wish Ash all the best as he retires from full time employment and I thank him for all he has done to make Gastonia a better place”, said Mayor Richard Franks.
Smith was born in Wilmington and grew up in Elizabethtown. He has two Bachelor’s Degrees from North Carolina State University and received his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before coming to Gastonia, he was in private practice in Goldsboro.
Smith is a longtime member of the North Carolina Association of Municipal Attorneys and served as President of that organization in 2017. Smith has been active in the community life of Gastonia throughout his tenure having served on the boards of the Gaston County Red Cross and the United Way of Gaston County. He served as President of the Gaston County Bar, President of the Gastonia Jaycees, and President of the Gastonia East Rotary Club where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow.
Now in his thirtieth year of service with Gastonia, Smith’s current tenure as an in-house City Attorney in North Carolina is one of the longest in the state. During his time with Gastonia, he has worked with 14 City Councils, 6 Mayors, 33 Council members, 4 City Managers, 4 Fire Chiefs, and 8 Police Chiefs.
“I am grateful to the Gastonia City Council that first appointed me in 2002, and have been honored that successive City Councils have continued to put their trust in me as the City’s legal counsel,” he said, “and I hope I have made a positive contribution in some small way to the rejuvenation of Gastonia that we have witnessed in recent years. I am beyond indebted to the many talented co-workers who have walked this path with me over the years, and I will miss my daily interactions with the city workforce.”
Smith said he is looking forward to traveling and does intend to look for opportunities to represent local governments and other clients in North Carolina in some capacity in the future.