Ashley Smith, a reputable attorney based in Allegany and a committed Republican, announced her district attorney campaign on Wednesday. A local of Cattaraugus County, Smith plans to secure the GOP endorsement for a position presently filled by Lori P. Rieman, a 15-year serving attorney, who has decided against another term. In her campaign announcement, Smith stressed, ‘The District Attorney’s Office requires unyielding Republican guidance for the succeeding four years and beyond.’ Her campaign will emphasize the imperative of law, order, safeguarding the rights of lawful citizens, and effectively addressing crime victims.
Expressing her concern over lenient policies, Smith criticized ‘fallible Democrat policies like bail reform that overly nurtures culprits instead of serving justice.’ Smith is not the only one vying for the position held by Rieman; she finds herself running alongside Preston Marshall, a Cattaraugus County public defender and former assistant DA, who has also declared his Republican candidacy. The scheduled date for the primary election is June 24, while November 4 will witness the general election.
Smith’s expansive background as a trial attorney ensures that she’s prepared to assume the DA role, effective immediately. She further expressed, ‘Addressing the fentanyl and opioid epidemic, resulting in heartbreak for families across the Southern Tier, remains high on my list of priorities.’ Smith pledges a stern stand against harmful drug dealers, while advocating alternative solutions for those struggling with addiction, thereby aiding their return to becoming contributing members of the community.
Smith has been the serving Cattaraugus County attorney since 2020, following a unanimous decision by the County Legislature. Smith’s extensive legal responsibilities involved managing cases around neglect, abuse, family disputes, and juvenile offenses, among others. Moreover, she takes care of the county’s civil cases, provides legal consultations to the Legislature and the 24 county departments in Little Valley, supervises a team of 14, while taking care of a $1.5 million office budget.
Before taking up her current official position, Smith filled the role of first assistant social services attorney, involving herself in cases related to child protection services, abuse, neglect, child custody, child aid, and adult protection. Beginning her career in a private legislative practice at Bly, Sheffield, Bargar & Pillittieri in Jamestown, she has since then dedicated herself to serving the law. Her career trajectory involved holding the Leon town justice seat and performing the legal duties for Salamanca city, Napoli and New Albion towns, and the Cattaraugus village.
She engaged in the New York State Attorney for the Children Panel, furthering her commitment towards enhancing the safety and wellbeing of children. Smith prides herself in giving back to her community through her career and personal endeavors. One can see her active participation in various social causes, such as volunteering for the YWCA of Jamestown Board of Directors, mentoring high school students in mock trials at Panama Central School, and offering her services to the less fortunate community members at Southern Tier Legal Services.
Smith has simultaneously involved herself in the local political sphere, being an active Republican advocate. She voiced, ‘I am unapologetically a conservative Republican all my life.’ She believes in the importance of principles and values, especially in the decision-making of prosecutors. Smith reassures her constituents that her stance on legal matters will always be clear, centered around being stringent on crime, and effectively working towards ensuring dangerous criminals face justice.
A mother to four children, Smith pursued her education at different levels in Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School, Gannon University of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Thomas M. Cooley Law School of Lansing, Michigan. She’s committed to maintaining the safety of the streets for families like her own.
Smith’s predecessor, Lori P. Rieman, was voted to a fourth four-year term in November 2021. Elected first in 2009, Rieman won against Democrat Edward Sharkey, making history as the first woman to don the role of a district attorney in the county. Prior to her victory, she served as an assistant district attorney for eights years, under the very Democrat she defeated.
Smith’s pursuit of the district attorney post exhibits a multitude of affirmations – a continued commitment towards Republican principles, an uncompromising stand against lenient legal matters, especially those catering to criminals, and a dedication to proactively helping her community overcome the serious drug crisis.
Her extensive legal career and a strong grasp on diverse cases, from civil matters to abuse and family offenses, ensure that she is thoroughly prepared for the responsibilities that come with the district attorney position. Moreover, her managerial experience, supervising staff and managing substantial budgets, prepares her for the administrative duties of the job.
Smith’s dedication to bettering her community, whether through taking on roles that contribute to the social fabric or volunteering for beneficial causes, aligns with her commitment to her campaign. As she stands firm on bringing justice to victims and ensuring law-abiding citizens stay protected, her actions resonate with the principles that she has upheld throughout her life.
The coming months will reveal if Ashley Smith’s pledges to address critical societal issues, uphold law and order, and more importantly, her career-long commitment to justice resonate with constituents as she races for the crucial District Attorney’s position.