William "Bill" Lucas (born 1928) was Wayne County, Michigan executive from 1983-1987 and was the 1986 Republican candidate for governor of Michigan.
Lucas was born in Harlem, New York to parents who were immigrants from the West Indies. He attended Manhattan College and then became part of the New York Police Department.
While in the NYPD he attended law school at Fordham University. After graduating from Fordham, Lucas became an FBI agent. He was stationed in Detroit in 1966 and left the FBI to become a deputy Wayne County Sheriff in 1968. In 1969 he became Wayne County Sheriff when the former sheriff, Roman S. Gribbs was elected Mayor of Detroit.
Lucas served as sheriff from 1969-1982. In 1982 he was elected the first Wayne County Executive ever. Up through this point he was a Democrat. In 1985 he switched to being a Republican, and in 1986 was the Republican candidate for Governor of Michigan. He lost to James Blanchard by a 68% to 32% landslide.
Although an African American, Lucas opposed Affirmative action. He was also pro-life.
Lucas made an unsuccessful run for Wayne County Sheriff in 2004.