County

Sheriff, Washington County

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The sheriff runs the county jail and provides police patrols, especially outside city and town limits.

Candidates Compare by issue

Wayne Blevins

Republican

Lieutenant, Washington County Sheriff's Department

The gist

Supports more community policing and visible county patrols
Supports equal training for all deputies, dispatchers and jailers
Pledges to end cliques and favoritism in the department
Proposes adopting proven practices from other counties' jails

More about Wayne

View sources (1)

Supports more community policing and visible county patrols
Election 2026: Sheriff Candidate Lieutenant Wayne Blevins
Interview · The Washington County Times · Nov 7, 2025 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“So, I'm really big about community policing.”
Supports equal training for all deputies, dispatchers and jailers
Election 2026: Sheriff Candidate Lieutenant Wayne Blevins
Interview · The Washington County Times · Nov 7, 2025 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“Personally, I think training should be across the board.”
Pledges to end cliques and favoritism in the department
Election 2026: Sheriff Candidate Lieutenant Wayne Blevins
Interview · The Washington County Times · Nov 7, 2025 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“there will not be any cliques, no good old boys, no A squad or B squad. It's going to be one squad.”
Proposes adopting proven practices from other counties' jails
Election 2026: Sheriff Candidate Lieutenant Wayne Blevins
Interview · The Washington County Times · Nov 7, 2025 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“go to 4 or 5 jails and take bits and pieces from each of them to make it work for our jail”

Max Greene

Democratic

The gist

Pledges to remove county Flock and surveillance cameras
Proposes renting jail beds to fund staff retention
Proposes a citizen merit board for the sheriff's office
Supports using opioid settlement funds for treatment

More about Max

View sources (1)

Pledges to remove county Flock and surveillance cameras
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Max Greene
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 21, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“All the County Flock Cameras, or Any Surveillance Cameras for that Matter, are Gone Day One.”
Proposes renting jail beds to fund staff retention
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Max Greene
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 21, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“Rent those Beds and ask the County Council to use this Out-of-County Revenue as incentives to reduce Staff turnover.”
Proposes a citizen merit board for the sheriff's office
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Max Greene
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 21, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“A Citizen Merit Board for Trust and Accountability with no Favoritism.”
Supports using opioid settlement funds for treatment
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Max Greene
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 21, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“We should use these funds for their mandated purposes to rehabilitate and facilitate treatment for those most affected by the Opioid Crises in our County.”

Claude C. Combs

Independent

The gist

No documented position found.

More about Claude

Walter (Johnny Z) Zelivetz

Independent

The gist

Opposes broad Flock camera use as unconstitutional
Supports fentanyl education and stepped-up drug enforcement
Supports better wages to retain good deputies
Pledges help for jail inmates to rejoin the community

More about Walter

View sources (1)

Opposes broad Flock camera use as unconstitutional
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Walter "Johnny Z" Zelivetz
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 23, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“A Flock camera right off the bat violates the Fourth Amendment.”
Supports fentanyl education and stepped-up drug enforcement
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Walter "Johnny Z" Zelivetz
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 23, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“More education is needed about fentanyl poisoning.”
Supports better wages to retain good deputies
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Walter "Johnny Z" Zelivetz
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 23, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“We need better wages to keep the good ones.”
Pledges help for jail inmates to rejoin the community
Election 2026: Candidate for Washington County Sheriff Walter "Johnny Z" Zelivetz
Candidate questionnaire · The Washington County Times · Sep 23, 2026 · washingtoncountytimes.com
“I will work to get help for people in jail so they can come out and be part of the community again.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 5 issues covered in this race.