Sheriff candidates discuss job experience and ICE relationships

Both candidates shared similar sentiments during forum, but differed in mental health support efforts

Dakota Dupuis, left, a Democrat, and Corey Bagley, right, a Republican are vying to become Hancock County’s next sheriff. Photo by Lydia Hart.

Oct. 27, 2026

By Lydia Hart

Corey Bagley and Dakota Dupuis, the two candidates running for sheriff in Hancock County, participated in a candidates’ forum hosted at the Blue Hill Public Library just two weeks before the midterm election.

The event drew almost 150 people who came to hear the candidates’ views in a race that will determine the first new sheriff in Hancock County since 2015.  

Amanda Woog, a member of the Blue Hill select board, moderated the forum, and a panel of local journalists asked questions: Faith DeAmbrose of the MDIslander, Andy Webster of Penobscot Bay Press, and John Epstein of The Rising Tide.

The forum on Oct. 21 began with brief opening remarks from each candidate, followed by three rounds of questions from the panelists, then questions submitted by the audience, ending with brief closing statements from the candidates. 

Almost 150 residents attended the Hancock County Sheriff’s Candidates Forum on Oct. 21. Photo by Lydia Hart.

One topic that became apparent during the forum was the difference in experience between the two candidates. 

“Your answers to our questions have been very similar, perhaps that's the nature of the job,” Webster said. ”But there must be some differentiating factor that would lead a voter to vote for one of you over the other. What do you think that is?” 

Bagley spoke about being born and raised in Hancock County, and dedicating his life to law enforcement. He emphasized the importance he places in serving his community.

“You have to be able to have the community's trust, and the town's trust, and the people's trust to be able to do that,“ Bagley said. “As someone who's lived here all my life and has 34 years of experience, both in working as a patrolman and in leadership roles, I think that is the biggest difference between me and my opponent.”

Dupuis spoke to the ever-evolving nature of law enforcement, and how his supervisory experience makes him best equipped to handle the challenges that may arise as sheriff. 

The three panelists (from left), Andy Webster, John Epstein, and Faith DeAmbrose, converse at candidates’ forum at the Blue Hill Public Library. Photo by Lydia Hart.

“You know for me it's working the different experiences I've had in law enforcement; it's changed my perspective over the years. It’s having that community approach, recognizing that the sheriffs office needs to continue to evolve with time. And then to understand that those concerns or expectations will also evolve, and address them as we encounter them,” Dupuis said. 

Relationship with ICE

Bagley and Dupuis provided similar responses to questions regarding the relationship the sheriff’s office has with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“The position of the sheriff's office in respect to ICE is we are not alerted by anything that they’ve done, or we haven't been up to this point,” Dupuis said. “In addition to that, it is not our job to enforce immigration.”

Bagley shared similar sentiments with Dupuis. He said while he has not been in the sheriff's office for the past three years, there was very limited interaction with ICE, although there were “some interactions with Border Patrol at times.”

“So my stance is, as sheriff, things aren't really going to change with the way we do business, because we don't do immigration enforcement as it is,” Bagley said.

Transparency and accountability

Both candidates agreed about the need for transparency and accountability regarding hypothetical deputy misconduct. 

When asked about a recent story in which a Blue Hill man alleged Sheriff Scott Kane tried to intimidate him to remove a yard sign in support of Bagley, both Bagley and Dupuis condemned the behavior. 

“You know, regardless of if someone supports me or my opponent, I think they’re entitled to their own opinions and I respect that,” Dupuis said. 

Bagley added, “We’re a free country and we should be able to say what we feel. And if that means putting a sign up on your lawn supporting a certain candidate, then we should be able to do that.” 

Mental health support

When DeAmbrose asked the candidates how they would address substance abuse and mental health needs, both candidates agreed on the challenges but differed on pathways to solutions.

“I think one of the first things I would want to do is create a position, a mental health liaison position,” Bagley said.

Bagley said that the liaison's role would include going into the field with officers, handling some complaints, and assisting an individual in a mental health crisis while connecting them with available resources. 

“In the event that we have someone that's going through a mental health crisis, they could step in and help with talking to the person or offer them resources,” Bagley said.  

Dupuis spoke about the behavioral health coordinator position he's been working towards for the past two years, and said it’s set to take effect in January 2027. 

“They would actually do follow-up; they would reach out to complainants and individuals involved in our calls for service. They would be connected with the local resources within our community to better understand what those resources have to offer and also establish those relationships,” Dupuis said.  

Bagley clarified that the difference between his liaison and Dupuis coordinator is that the liaison would be “someone who is out in the field working with us,” whereas the coordinator “would basically stay in the office.” 

The midterm election is Nov. 3. For more election information, including side-by-side candidate overviews, read The Rising Tide’s voter guide.