After 24 years on the job, Sheriff R. Jay Fisher is stepping aside, and Baltimore County Democrats now have a June 23 primary to decide who will run the low-profile but critical office that handles courthouse security, inmate transport and warrant service. Three candidates want the badge: union leader Clyde Boatwright, longtime deputy William Merrill III and former deputy Adam Schuster, who is banking on a low-budget, Facebook-first campaign. The contest has turned into a three-way showdown between union-backed fundraising and institutional reach, an insider pitch about rebuilding from within, and an outsider bet on social media mobilization.
According to The Baltimore Banner, campaign finance reports show a lopsided money race. Boatwright has raised more than $72,000, Merrill has brought in roughly $575 and Schuster reports no cash on hand. In a countywide contest where early outreach and turnout operations often decide low-profile primaries, those gaps are hard to ignore. The Banner also notes that Fisher, who has led the office for more than two decades, is not seeking reelection.
Union-backed front-runner pushes modernization
Clyde Boatwright, president of the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police, is running as the union-backed front-runner with a promise to modernize the sheriff's office and rebuild its ranks. He lays out a wide-ranging plan on Boatwright's campaign site, and AFRO highlighted proposals that include a 24-hour domestic violence unit and streamlined hiring systems. Boatwright and his supporters argue that boosting staffing and upgrading equipment would make the office a more reliable partner to county police and the courts.
Deputy argues for inside fixes and morale building
William Merrill III, a deputy first class in the office's fugitive unit, is pitching himself as the inside man who knows where morale has sagged and how to fix it. He recalls a time when the office had more than 120 deputies and says a careful rebuild is needed rather than a rush to fill slots. Merrill wants targeted recruitment at military bases, colleges and local high schools to restore capacity, and he details his platform and biography on William Merrill III's campaign site.
Facebook-first underdog wants a donor-free pitch
Adam Schuster, a former deputy, has largely taken his campaign to Facebook and other social media, trading yard signs for posts and videos. In April 2025, he floated the idea of using remote Zoom hearings to cut down on inmate transports between jurisdictions, a cost and staffing issue that typically flies under the radar. Schuster says he avoids taking donations because "that would mean I owe people favors," a stance that leaves his effort with no reported cash on hand, according to The Baltimore Banner. His outsider message is aimed squarely at voters who distrust traditional political money and influence.
Why staffing and equipment matter
The sheriff's office is responsible for courthouse security, transporting inmates and serving court-ordered processes, work that requires deputies in every courtroom and dependable logistics across the county. County general orders and agency documents spell out those duties and the procedures deputies must follow, which helps explain why all three campaigns keep hammering recruitment and equipment. Because the county jail has been run by the county executive for decades, some candidates also raise the long-term question of whether the sheriff should push to reclaim additional responsibilities, a shift that would require action outside the sheriff's office itself. Those operational limits are reflected in public agency materials.
What to watch before the June 23 primary
Voters will pick the Democratic nominee on June 23, and the outcome may hinge on whether union muscle and fundraising, an insider's experience or an outsider's digital organizing proves more persuasive. Boatwright lists the June 23 primary date prominently on his homepage and is counting on endorsements and union reach to turn money into turnout. With the office operating well below its historical headcount, the next sheriff will be judged quickly on whether they can bring in new deputies, keep courtrooms secure and modernize a small but consequential county agency.
