The mayor of Ashland is elected for a four-year term and is not term limited. The mayor presides over city commission meetings, is a voting member of the city commission and represents the city at major functions. The current mayor is Chuck D. Charles.

The city of Ashland operates under a city manager form of government. Under this form of government, the people of Ashland elect a mayor and four commissioners, who together make up the Board of Commissioners, which possesses the legislative and executive powers of the city. The mayor, as a member of the board, presides over all meetings, calls special meetings, and executes all bonds, notes, contracts, and written obligations authorized by the board.

The mayor and four commissioners are elected by the citizens to act as their representatives in all legislative matters. Their primary duties are to enact ordinances and make policies that are for the ultimate good of the community as a whole. The mayor is elected for a four-year term and the commissioners are elected for two-year terms. In home rule class cities with the city manager form of government non-partisan elections are mandatory.

List of mayors

Order Image Mayor Term began Term ended Political party Birth and death Notes 1 Henry Bishop Brodess 1876 1881 Republican(1830 – October 20, 1881) Before being elected, he was a local judge, and published an outspoken anti-slavery newspaper called the American Union. In 1860, Brodess was a delegate to the Republican National Convention. IN 1861, Brodess became a member of the Ashland Home Guard, an organization formed for "the defense and protection of our families and homes" from guerrilla raiders. Starting around November 15, 1862, Brodess served as a first lieutenant in Company A of the Fourteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He tendered his own resignation and was honorably discharged on November 17, 1862. During his third term, Brodess died in office and John Means was appointed to serve the remainder of his term. 2 John Means 1881 1882Republican(September 21, 1829 – February 14, 1910) He organized the Cincinnati and Big Sandy Packet Company, and was vice-president of Ashland National Bank. 3William Wirt Culbertson 1882 1883Republican(September 22, 1835 – October 31, 1911) He also served as a U.S. representative from Kentucky. 4 William Henry Harrison Eba 1883 1883Republican(November 5, 1831 – August 31, 1911) During the Civil War, Eba enlisted in Company I, Fifth West Virginia Regiment, and was promoted to sergeant-major, March 1862; first lieutenant. He declined the post of adjutant after being acting adjutant two months. He was commissioned a month later by Governor Pierpont captain of Company F, same regiment. He was in various engagements, but none of the great battles of the war. Later, he became city truant officer.Kentucky, Death Records, 1852-1953 5 Thomas Russell 1883 1886 Before becoming mayor he was a street commissioner.A History of Ashland, Kentucky 1786 - 1954 6 William Worth Patterson 1886 1889Republican(November 3, 1849 – March 28, 1921) He was a Freemason, an Odd Fellow and a Knight of Pythias. 7Patrick Moriarty Jr. 1889 1889 (January 7, 1851 – October 25, 1928) Previously served on the City Council for a number of terms. Moriarty served as Park Commissionaire and was one of the charter members of the first Chamber of Commerce, then known as the Commercial Club of Ashland. 8 David A. Fisher 1889 1892 (August 14, 1840 – January 19, 1911) He served in the American Civil War for the Union as a private. During the War, Fisher was promoted to a full first sergeant. 9 J. C. Whitten 1892 1894 10 Thomas S. Newman 1894 1897 (October 10, 1851 – October 3, 1930) 11 William Arthur Ginn 1897 1906 12 Joseph Oscar Mathewson 1906 1910 (February 4, 1871 - February 28, 1926) 13 Dr. Albert Harrison Moore 1910 1913 (1871 - September 26, 1913) A graduate of Jefferson Medical College in 1896, he was a member of the American Medical Association and the Kentucky State and Boyd County Medical Societies. He is recorded to have "died suddenly at his home, on September 22 , aged 42 years." 14 J. M. McCleary 1913 1913 15 William Arthur Ginn 1913 1914 16 Dr. William Monroe Salisbury 1914 1917 17 Henderson Richardson Dysard 1917 1921Republican 18 Dr. William Monroe Salisbury 1921 1925 19 William M. Nicholson 1925 1926 A plumber by trade, he later was appointed as plumbing inspector of Boyd County in 1930. 20 William Boggs Whitt 1926 1926Democratic(September 17, 1867 - December 19, 1926) Whitt was previously a member of the Kentucky Senate. He committed suicide on December 19, 1926, by shooting himself through the heart. He had been in ill health. 21 Ernest E. Ramey 1926 1927 22 Charles F. Weaver 1927 1928Republican(1858 - October 21, 1932) In 1904, Weaver was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Kentucky. 23 William C. Frailie 1928 1932Republican 24 Edgar Browne Hager 1932 1935Democratic 25 William C. Simpson 1936 1940Republican 26 Henry D. Shanklin 1940 1943Democratic 27 Clyde R. Levi 1944 1947Republican 28 William C. Simpson 1948 1951Republican 29 David Aronberg 1952 1955Republican 30 Wilburn Caskey 1956 1959Democratic 31 David Aronberg 1960 1964Republican 32 Wilburn Caskey 1964 1968Democratic 33 Charles Henry Gartrell 1968 1972Democratic 34 James J. Webb 1972 1976 35 David O. Welch 1976 1980Democratic 36 Jack T. Thompson 1979 1983 Democratic Dr. Arlie "Rudy" Dunnigan 1993 2001 (1941 - ) Paul R. Reeves 2001 2002 (September 27, 1945 - September 16, 2021) Reeves resigned from office five months into his term after being charge for possession of child pornography. Stephen E. Gilmore 2002 2008 (April 8, 1943 - December 11, 2024) Previously served for four terms as a city commissioner. Thomas E. Kelley 2009 2012 (December 1, 1941 - August 31, 2021) Chuck D. Charles 2013 2016 Stephen E. Gilmore 2017 2021 (April 8, 1943 - December 11, 2024) Gilmore defeated incumbent Chuck Charles to return to be reelected after serving as mayor from 2002 to 2008. Matthew B. Perkins 2021 2025Democratic Chuck D. Charles 2025 Nonpartisan

See also

List of people from Ashland, Kentucky

References