NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – A pair of incumbents, one a democrat and one a republican, are running for reelection to their seats on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 November Midterm Elections.
LeAnn Pierce, the current chair of the Board, and Rob Zapple, the longest-serving current member of the Board, are seeking new four-year terms. Pierce is a republican running for her second commissioner term after serving as mayor and a member of town council in Carolina Beach. She is a retired business owner. Zapple is a democrat looking for his fourth term as county commissioner. He is a business owner and general contractor, builder and designer.
The two incumbents face three challengers in this year’s election.
Richard Collier is the second republican candidate, and making his second run for local office after entering the race for a seat on Wilmington City Council in 2025. He is a civil engineer, former member of the county’s planning board and current member of the City of Wilmington’s Planning Commission.
LeShonda Wallace is the second democrat on the ticket, and making her first campaign for political office. She has a Ph.D. in public health, and spent her career in nursing and healthcare. Wallace has previously served as Chair of the New Hanover County Health and Human Services Board.
Robert Drach is the third-party candidate in the race as the libertarian nominee for county commissioner. The business executive in financial management and manufacturing ran unsuccessfully for North Carolina State Auditor in 2024, but this is his first campaign for local office. He has served as a member of the county’s board of Equalization and Review.
Republicans currently hold a 3-2 majority on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. The candidates elected in November will join republicans Bill Rivenbark and Dane Scalise, and democrat Stephanie Walker on the board starting in December.
You can click the links in the candidates’ full names above to see where they stand on the important issues.
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