Meet The Candidates: Wicomico County Council District 3 & 4

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. — Candidates for Wicomico County Council’s District 3 and District 4 seats discussed key issues, including higher education, the local school system, public safety, the revenue cap and the Salisbury Fire Service Agreement.

Redistricting has changed the boundaries of both districts ahead of the 2026 election, moving District 3 closer to downtown Salisbury, while the new District 4 covers areas east and slightly south of downtown.

In District 3, Democratic candidate Habacuc Petion is running against Republican candidate Tony Hilligoss.

Petion said his experience as a Haitian immigrant who has worked in Wicomico County for 35 years gives him a unique perspective on serving the community, particularly underserved populations.

“We started community-based organization where the people, when they need access, specially when dealing with the underserved community through serving, you know, the, immigrant population,” Petion said.

Hilligoss, who has been part of the education system for 32 years, said he wants to see greater accountability and improvements in education.

“If we don’t educate, we don’t get smart. You don’t get smart; you don’t make money. You don’t make money. We don’t bring people to this beautiful area that we all call home. in Wicomico County,” Hilligoss said.

On the Salisbury Fire Service Agreement, both District 3 candidates agreed that Salisbury and Wicomico County need to work together but said they need more information before discussing the agreement further.

In District 4, Republican Bobby Lee Leath Jr. is running against Democrat Erin Patterson.

Leath owns and operates several small businesses. He said he wants to focus on affordability, school safety and education.

“Hopefully put a little bit of my knowledge into the district to kind of help the younger people that are coming up. I want to see these schools doing better,” Leath said.

Patterson, who has been involved in politics since she turned 18, now works as a teacher. She said her experience in schools has given her insight into areas that need improvement.

“I see the things that are working there and the things that aren’t working and there definitely needs to be some changes made,” Patterson said.

On the county’s revenue cap, both District 4 candidates agreed that living within the county’s means is important.