Sherwin Wells, a Republican, is running for one of four at-large seats on the Montgomery County Council in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election. He is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

The at-large council members represent all Montgomery County residents and vote on the county budget, land-use policy, legislation and oversight of county agencies. Four seats are on the ballot, and voters may choose up to four candidates. The other candidates in the race are Karla Silvestre, Laurie-Anne Sayles, Marc Elrich and Scott Evan Goldberg, all Democrats.

Candidate information

  • Party: Republican
  • Residence: Gaithersburg, Maryland (since 1997, according to his campaign website)
  • Education: Associate degree, Montgomery College; bachelor's degree, University of Maryland University College; doctor of ministry in theology and apologetics, Liberty University, according to his campaign website. Wells said he is pursuing a juris doctor degree.
  • Background: Wells said he is an immigrant from Trinidad & Tobago.

Experience

Wells has served in the U.S. Army and worked as a mortgage broker and managing broker, according to his BallotReady profile.

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Wells' responses on his campaign website and through his candidate profile on Civoren. All statements reflect the candidate's own claims.

Economy and business development

Wells said he supports a "County Businesses First" approach to government contracts and procurement, aiming to keep taxpayer dollars circulating locally. He also called for modernizing the county's permitting system with an option for same-day expedited processing for qualifying applications. On workforce development, Wells said he backs employment preference programs that connect Montgomery County graduates with local businesses, government positions and career opportunities through stronger partnerships between schools, employers and training programs.

Housing

Wells said he supports exploring a moratorium on foreclosures and tax lien sales for residents facing genuine financial hardship, along with improved oversight of and transparency in hard money lending. He called for expanding affordable housing by working with developers and builders to reduce unnecessary barriers and lower building costs. Wells also said he supports increasing access to first-time homebuyer grants and financial literacy programs to help residents understand credit and debt management.

Taxes and budget

Wells said he supports creating property tax credit programs for seniors, retirees, veterans, teachers and public safety workers. He said the credits would help recognize their service while making it easier for them to stay in Montgomery County.

Transportation and land use

Wells said the county must work with neighboring jurisdictions to reopen White's Ferry, calling it a way to improve transportation access and reduce travel burdens for commuters. He also said he supports reducing impact fees to encourage development and called for a comprehensive study to update zoning policies so they align with modern business needs.

Public safety

Wells said he supports strengthening public safety while improving emergency preparedness and disaster response planning. That includes investing in first responders, improving coordination between agencies and ensuring the county is prepared for severe weather, public health crises and other emergencies, he said.

Candidate responses were collected through the candidate's campaign website and BallotReady questionnaire. The Potomac Beacon did not interview the candidate for this profile. Voters can learn more at voteforwells.org.