The Ballot Brief
New Hanover County, North Carolina

New Hanover County Board of Commissioners

See where Drach, Collier, Zapple, Wallace and Pierce stand on schools, growth and water. Names follow official New Hanover County election filings.

About this race

Five candidates for two seats on the November 3, 2026 ballot, certified by the New Hanover County Board of Elections and confirmed on the county's official sample ballot. Rob Zapple (Democratic) and LeAnn Pierce (Republican, chair) are the two incumbents seeking re-election, per the county's Board of Commissioners page.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

North Carolina › New Hanover County › New Hanover County Board of Commissioners

Bob Drach

Libertarian

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Sound financial management for county government
  • Balanced growth
  • Support for schools and public health and safety
Biography

Bob Drach is a business executive and financial professional who served as CEO of HMF Express from 2004 to 2020, per his campaign site. He holds a B.S. from William & Mary and an MBA from Stanford University, and has chaired the North Carolina Libertarian Party and run for state auditor in 2024, per Port City Daily. He previously served on the county's Board of Equalization and Review, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Richard M. Collier

Republican

Biography

Richard M. Collier serves on the Wilmington Planning Board and ran unsuccessfully for a Wilmington City Council seat in 2025, per Port City Daily. No campaign website was found for his 2026 county commissioner run. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Rob Zapple

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Manage growth while focusing on transportation and infrastructure needs.
  • Hold polluters accountable and strengthen enforcement of clean water protections.
  • Support public education from Pre-K through community college.
Biography

Rob Zapple is the sitting New Hanover County commissioner seeking re-election, per the county Board of Commissioners' roster and his campaign site. As commissioner, Zapple says he supported teacher pay increases, worked to increase funding for local nonprofits and doubled the number of pre-K classrooms, and helped fast-track development of Hanover Pines Nature Park, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
LeShonda Wallace

LeShonda Wallace

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Healthcare access: health promotion, quality and timely care
  • Environmental stewardship: water quality and responsible land use
  • Economic growth: small business support, job training and workforce development
Biography

LeShonda Wallace is an advanced practice nurse who chaired New Hanover County's Health and Human Services Board and led the county's community response during the COVID-19 pandemic through education, free vaccine drives and supply distribution, per the campaign site. She is the founder and executive director of SEEDS of Healing, which supports people affected by HIV/AIDS and expands access to care in the county, was named WILMA's Woman to Watch in Health in 2018 and was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

LeAnn Pierce

Republican

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • preserving and expanding green space
  • strengthening county resilience to storms and flooding
  • improving walking and biking connectivity
Biography

LeAnn Pierce is a member of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, elected in 2022 and chosen board chair in December 2025, per the campaign site. Pierce previously served as Mayor of Carolina Beach from 2019 to 2022 and on the Carolina Beach Town Council from 2013 to 2021, after owning and operating a 62 room hotel in Carolina Beach for 30 years, per the campaign site. Pierce holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Carolina University, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in 2026?

5 candidates are tracked for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bob Drach, Richard M. Collier, Rob Zapple, LeShonda Wallace and LeAnn Pierce. Candidate information follows official New Hanover County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools, growth and water.

When is the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners election in North Carolina?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Carolina are on the North Carolina election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact New Hanover County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official New Hanover County and state election office filings, last verified October 16, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Carolina election office, or see the full New Hanover County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your New Hanover County ballot

16 tracked races in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
New Hanover County Clerk of Superior CourtNew Hanover County SheriffNew Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District SupervisorSee all 16 New Hanover County races
Candidate profiles
Bob Drach, full profileRichard M. Collier, full profileRob Zapple, full profileLeShonda Wallace, full profileLeAnn Pierce, full profileOfficial North Carolina election office