List of mayors of Ashland, Kentucky facts for kids

The mayor of Ashland, Kentucky is an important leader for the city. This person is chosen by the people of Ashland for a four-year term. There is no limit to how many times someone can be mayor. The mayor leads meetings of the city commission and helps make decisions. They also represent Ashland at important events. The current mayor is Chuck D. Charles.

Ashland uses a special way of governing called the "city manager form of government." This means that the people elect a mayor and four other leaders called commissioners. Together, these five people form the Board of Commissioners. This board has the power to make laws and manage the city. The mayor is a member of this board. They lead all meetings, can call special meetings, and sign important city documents like contracts.

The mayor and the four commissioners are elected by the citizens. Their main job is to create rules (called ordinances) and policies. These rules are made to help the entire community. The mayor serves for four years, and the commissioners serve for two years. In cities like Ashland, these elections are "non-partisan," meaning candidates do not run as members of a political party.

Understanding the Mayor's Role

What Does the Mayor Do?

The mayor of Ashland is like the main spokesperson for the city. They work with the city commission to make sure Ashland runs smoothly. This includes making decisions about city services, budgets, and future plans. The mayor helps guide the city's direction.

How the City Government Works

Ashland's government is set up to share power. The mayor and commissioners make the big decisions. A city manager then carries out these decisions day-to-day. This system helps make sure the city is managed well and efficiently.

Past Mayors of Ashland

This section lists the people who have served as mayor of Ashland since 1876.

      Democratic (6)       Republican (13)

Order	Image	Mayor	Term Began	Term Ended	Political Party	Notes
1	Henry Bishop Brodess	Henry Bishop Brodess	1876	1881	Republican	He was a local judge and published a newspaper. He also served in the military during the Civil War. He died while in office.
2	John Means	John Means	1881	1882	Republican	He helped organize a shipping company and was a bank vice-president.
3	William Wirt Culbertson	William Wirt Culbertson	1882	1883	Republican	He also served as a U.S. Representative for Kentucky.
4		William Henry Harrison Eba	1883	1883	Republican	He served in the Civil War and later became a city truant officer.
5		Thomas Russell	1883	1886		He was a street commissioner before becoming mayor.
6	William Worth Patterson	William Worth Patterson	1886	1889	Republican	He was involved in several community organizations.
7	Patrick Moriarty Jr.	Patrick Moriarty Jr.	1889	1889		He served on the City Council and was a founding member of the Chamber of Commerce.
8		David A. Fisher	1889	1892		He served as a Private in the American Civil War for the Union.
9		J. C. Whitten	1892	1894
10		Thomas S. Newman	1894	1897
11		William Arthur Ginn	1897	1906
12		Joseph Oscar Mathewson	1906	1910
13		Dr. Albert Harrison Moore	1910	1913		He was a doctor and a member of medical societies. He died during his term.
14		J. M. McCleary	1913	1913
15		William Arthur Ginn	1913	1914
16	Dr. William Monroe Salisbury	Dr. William Monroe Salisbury	1914	1917
17		Henderson Richardson Dysard	1917	1921	Republican
18	Dr. William Monroe Salisbury	Dr. William Monroe Salisbury	1921	1925
19		William M. Nicholson	1925	1926		He was a plumber and later became a plumbing inspector.
20		William Boggs Whitt	1926	1926	Democratic	He was a member of the Kentucky Senate before becoming mayor. He died during his term.
21		Ernest E. Ramey	1926	1927
22		Charles F. Weaver	1927	1928	Republican	He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904.
23		William C. Frailie	1928	1932	Republican
24		Edgar Browne Hager	1932	1935	Democratic
25		William C. Simpson	1936	1940	Republican
26		Henry D. Shanklin	1940	1943	Democratic
27		Clyde R. Levi	1944	1947	Republican
28		William C. Simpson	1948	1951	Republican
29	David Aronberg	David Aronberg	1952	1955	Republican
30		Wilburn Caskey	1956	1959	Democratic
31	David Aronberg	David Aronberg	1960	1964	Republican
32		Wilburn Caskey	1964	1968	Democratic
33		Charles Henry Gartrell	1968	1972	Democratic
34		James J. Webb	1972	1976
35		David O. Welch	1976	1980	Democratic
36		Jack T. Thompson	1980	1984	Democratic
		Thomas E. Kelley	2009	2012
		Chuck D. Charles	2013	2016
		Stephen E. Gilmore	2017	2021
		Matthew B. Perkins	2021	2025	Democratic
		Chuck D. Charles	2025	Present	Nonpartisan	Chuck D. Charles began his current term on January 1, 2025.