County

Sheriff, Carroll County

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The sheriff runs the county's sheriff's office: serving court papers, providing courthouse security and, in many counties, patrolling and running the detention center.

Candidates Compare by issue

Gail F. Wickless

Democratic

Retired police officer

The gist

Opposes deputies doing civil immigration enforcement
Supports role-play mental health crisis training with experts
Pledges to review budget to equip first responders

More about Gail

View sources (1)

Opposes deputies doing civil immigration enforcement
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Local officers should not be recruited to accomplish civil immigration enforcement.”
Supports role-play mental health crisis training with experts
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“Bring in expert speakers familiar with mental health issues to facilitate the role place scenarios would be essential.”
Pledges to review budget to equip first responders
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I would examine the current budget to ensure first responders are fully equipped to respond initially to situations.”

Jim DeWees

RepublicanIncumbent

Carroll County Sheriff

The gist

Led adoption of the 287(g) program at the county jail
Pledges continued cooperation with ICE through the detention center
Led creation of a behavioral health co-response team
Secured grants for body-worn cameras and new headquarters

More about Jim

View sources (1)

Led adoption of the 287(g) program at the county jail
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I implemented the 287g program in the detention center in 2024”
Pledges continued cooperation with ICE through the detention center
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I will continue to work with ICE through the local detention center”
Led creation of a behavioral health co-response team
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I've partnered with the health department to implement a behavior health team of social workers that respond with law enforcement”
Secured grants for body-worn cameras and new headquarters
VOTE411 Voter Guide: Carroll County Sheriff
Candidate questionnaire · League of Women Voters of Maryland (VOTE411) · onyourballot.vote411.org
“I've received grant funding to ease the burden for taxpayers in support of the body worn camera initiative and our new headquarters building.”

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; 2 issues covered in this race.