The longest serving sheriff in Lancaster County history says he won’t be seeking another term next year. Terry Wagner made his announcement Wednesday morning on the steps of the Hall of Justice.
He also announced his support for long time LSO Deputy Chief Ben Houchin, who announced he will be running for Wagner’s seat. “Lancaster County is my home, and I am honored to have worked alongside Sheriff Wagner for over 32 years to keep our county safe,” Houchin says.
“As your sheriff my top priorities are being responsive to public safety needs, collaborating with the public and other law enforcement agencies, and listening to the community we serve. I look forward to working together to solve the toughest issues facing our county.”
Houchin has a long-history of service to Lancaster County. He began in the Sheriff’s office in 1993 and spent 25 years as a team leader and commander in the Tactical Response Unit where he was quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Since then, Houchin continued to rise in rank to Chief Deputy and was invited to participate in the 229th Session of the FBI National Academy, where he graduated in 2007.
“Chief Deputy Houchin has my full support,” Wagner says. “I’ve seen first-hand his commitment and dedication to serve our county and put our residents’ safety first above all else. Chief Deputy Houchin will be a Sheriff that listens and collaborates to address challenges our county faces.”
Wagner was first elected as sheriff in 1994 and re-elected unopposed in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018. Wagner was re-election in 2022. He says he began thinking about retirement following the riots in Lincoln in 2020.
(Chief Deputy Ben Houchin)