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Three top attorneys have left Guilford County in as many months, with the most recent departure Tuesday.

David Smith’s sudden resignation as interim county attorney leaves Guilford County without any administrative attorneys to advise the Board of Commissioners on litigation, to draft contracts, or to help keep the public’s business in the open.

“It certainly doesn’t reflect well on the county in that the perception is that the county attorney’s office is a difficult place to work,” said Steve Arnold, vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners. “And that really isn’t the case.”

Smith’s three-line resignation gave no reasons for leaving.

“I hereby tender my resignation as Interim County Attorney for Guilford County effective immediately,” Smith said. “It has been a pleasure working for you even though it was a very short time. Good luck to all of you.”

Smith took the job Feb. 12. He previously had retired from Alamance County as the county attorney and manager. Smith could not be reached by phone Tuesday evening.

The county attorney is hired and fired by the Board of Commissioners. Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston said he hopes to hire an interim county attorney and deputy county attorney by Thursday.

Smith’s resignation follows the resignation of Mike Newby, who left Friday for a job in Davidson County.

In December, Sharron Kurtz resigned. A majority of the 11-member Board of Commissioners wanted to fire her, Alston said. But six commissioners never publicly supported her removal.

Alston and Arnold said other county-employed attorneys could be pulled to work in the county attorney’s office temporarily. The county has other attorneys in the sheriff’s office and in social services.

Or an outside firm could take the job under contract, Alston said.

An attempt to bring in a private law firm failed once before in December. Tom Terrell, a Smith Moore Leatherwood attorney, nearly took a part-time contract as interim county attorney for $12,000 a month.

Smith Moore Leatherwood, which has six offices and more than 180 attorneys across the Southeast, pulled out of the contract on the day it was supposed to be signed, citing a conflict of interest. One of its attorneys represents the city of High Point.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com