Cleveland County Government Appoints New County Attorney

Cleveland County Government Appoints New County Attorney
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 1, 2025              

SHELBY, N.C- At the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners’ Special Called Meeting held on Monday, December 30^th, 2024, the Board unanimously appointed Jonathan L. Sink to serve as the County Attorney. Chairman Kevin Gordon said, “On behalf of the Board, we have the utmost confidence in Jonathan’s breadth of legal knowledge and experience in local government.”  Chairman Gordon further stated, “We welcome Jonathan to our team as he is an excellent fit for this crucial role. The Board looks forward to working together with Jonathan for the betterment of our community.”

As of Monday, December 30^th, 2024, Jonathan will serve an initial contract term through June 30^th, 2025.  Jonathan will function as the legal advisor to the Board of Commissioners. 

Jonathan is a North Carolina native, UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, and ardent enthusiast of North Carolina and Southern History. Jonathan brings 15 years of legal experience to Cleveland County – steeped predominantly in local government law.

“It is an honor and a privilege to work for such a solid Board of Commissioners,” said Sink. “A great County deserves a great governing board, and we are blessed to have exactly that here in Cleveland County. Local government law is what I know, so I look forward to equipping our elected board with proactive legal advocacy, while also working hand-in-hand with our talented County staff.”

Sink began his legal career in May 2009 while still a first-year law student when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hired him to serve as the board’s law clerk. He was subsequently promoted to the full-time role of associate general counsel in 2011, a role in which Sink defended the District against frivolous lawsuits and other complaints, conducted proactive legal trainings for the Board and staff, and communicated daily with school principals in need of on-the-spot legal advice.

After a formative seven-plus years with CMS, Sink joined the Mecklenburg County Manager’s Office as the County’s Government Affairs Director, where Sink advanced the Board’s legislative agenda at every level of government. It was through this role that Sink met Speaker Tim Moore and eventually moved his family to Raleigh in Nov. 2017, where Sink worked as an attorney and deputy chief of staff for Speaker Moore.

During his time in Raleigh, Sink also worked as general counsel for the Department of Public Instruction and as Executive Director of the North Carolina Republican Party. Sink was recruited back to the region in early 2020 to work as Gaston County Attorney, where he helped the Board of Commissioners navigate unprecedented COVID restrictions.

Near the end of 2021, Sink resigned his position to start a boutique law firm with his wife, Leigha, so that the two could run their own small business focused almost exclusively on representing local government clients in North Carolina. A proud husband and father of five, Sink and his family are grateful to call Cleveland County home.

1.1.25 PDF Press Release Link

Media contact:
Karyn Owens
Marketing and Communications Director
Cleveland County Government
704-484-4800
karyn.owens@clevelandcountync.gov