Meet The Candidates: Wicomico County Sheriff
WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Salisbury Committee and PACE hosted a forum for candidates running for Wicomico County sheriff, featuring incumbent Sheriff Mike Lewis and challenger Lana Foley.
Lewis is seeking an unprecedented sixth term, saying there is still work to be done.
“We must continue confronting violent crime and the drug epidemic, address the challenges posed by mental illness and addiction, and embrace new technology and investigative tools,” Lewis said.
Foley is looking to bring a new perspective to the county. Without a background in law enforcement, she said her focus would be on holding residents accountable while remaining mindful of their humanity.
“This position is not only about fighting crime. It’s about supporting the extraordinary human beings who put on the uniform and keep our community safe. It’s about giving them the tools, support and leadership they need to do that job well. It’s about building a community,” Foley said.
Both candidates discussed topics including school safety and the 287(g) program, which allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties under formal agreements. Maryland lawmakers prohibited local participation in the program during the 2026 legislative session.
Foley said she believes local deputies should focus on their existing responsibilities.
“I felt like we’re already understaffed, and our deputies do not need to be working with them to do their job. We need to be focusing on doing our job and keeping our community safe,” Foley said.
Lewis, meanwhile, said local law enforcement should be able to work with any federal agency, including ICE.
“We need law and order in this county, and we need to be allowed to work with any law enforcement agency to include ICE. If the need arises, we should be able to assist them,” Lewis said.
When it comes to school safety, both candidates said protecting students is a priority.
Foley said schools need more resources to help students succeed and emphasized the importance of stronger community connections.
“They maybe are lacking resources for actually succeeding in the school. It’s easy to just push kids through, which is not helping anybody in the long run. It creates crime,” Foley said.
She added that she does not yet have all the answers but believes stronger community partnerships and adequate financial resources could help address the challenges.
Lewis said school safety is influenced by decisions made at the state level, which he believes can limit what local officials and educators are able to do.
“It’s unfair to your grandchildren. Yes. But the Maryland General Assembly have tied our hands in so many ways, and it trickles down to the Board of Education. It trickles down to the educators, and it certainly trickles down to law enforcement,” Lewis said.
