Sherwin Wells, a Gaithersburg Republican, is running for the Montgomery County Council at-large race in the Nov. 3, 2026, election.

Four at-large seats are up for election.

Voters choose up to four candidates. Wells is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data. 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)
  • Education: Associate degree, Montgomery College, and bachelor's degree, University of Maryland University College, according to his Civoren profile. Doctor of ministry in theology and apologetics, Liberty University. Wells said on his campaign website 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 BallotReady questionnaire.

Economy and business

Wells said he supports a "County Businesses First" approach to government contracts and procurement. He said he wants to modernize the county's permitting system, including an option for same-day expedited processing for qualifying applications. He also called for employment preference programs and workforce development initiatives to connect Montgomery County graduates with local businesses and government positions.

Housing

Wells said he supports expanding affordable housing by working with developers and builders to reduce barriers and lower building costs. He said he wants to explore a moratorium on foreclosures and tax lien sales for residents facing financial hardship and to improve oversight of hard money lending. Wells also said he backs first-time homebuyer grants and financial literacy programs.

Public safety

Wells said he supports investing in first responders and improving coordination between agencies for emergency preparedness, including severe weather and public health crises.

Taxes and budget

Wells said he supports property tax credit programs for seniors, retirees, veterans, teachers and public safety workers. He said the credits would help those groups remain in Montgomery County.

Transportation and land use

Wells said he supports reducing impact fees to encourage development and increase housing supply. He called for a comprehensive zoning study to align policies with modern business needs. Wells also said the county should work with neighboring jurisdictions to reopen White's Ferry.

Candidate positions were drawn from Wells' campaign website and his BallotReady questionnaire responses. The Bethesda Beacon did not interview the candidate for this profile. Voters can learn more at voteforwells.org.