The Cleveland County Board of Education recently made good on a promise to get rid of its legal representation and hire a new law firm. The decision, made during the January meeting, was not without controversy. After a lengthy discussion, five members approved the hiring of Sink Law Firm while four voted against.  

A husband-and-wife team, Sink Law Firm appears online as a Charlotte company. Jonathan Sink told Gaston County Commissioners a year ago that they were moving to Belmont. He was being hired as Gaston County’s attorney at the time. Sink bought a house in Belmont in May 2020. 

Last month Leigha Sink, Jonathan’s wife and fellow attorney, told Cleveland School Board members that their family was moving to Shelby where she would be the primary attorney for the board. 

Made up of nine members, the school board saw a significant switch up in the November election. Five new faces were voted in, many of whom vowed to replace the former attorney after a botched lawsuit in 2019.