{"biography":"Rob Zapple is the incumbent commissioner seeking re\u2011election to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners as a Democrat in the 2026 race, with the Democratic primary held on March\u202f3,\u202f2026 and the general election slated for November\u202f3,\u202f2026\u30101\u3011. \n\nZapple and his wife Michele have lived, worked, and contributed to New Hanover County for more than 22\u202fyears. He is a licensed general contractor and the owner of Rob Zapple Design and Build Inc., while Michele co\u2011owns Carolina Gymnastics Academy. The couple raised three children in the county, all of whom attended New Hanover County public schools and earned degrees from North Carolina universities\u30108\u3011. \n\nIn his public\u2011service career, Zapple serves as a County Commissioner, a role that involves setting policy, approving the county budget, and overseeing land\u2011use planning, public safety, and environmental protection. He is also active with several nonprofit organizations that serve Wilmington and the broader county, reflecting his commitment to community development\u30108\u3011\u30109\u3011. \n\nAs a commissioner, Zapple emphasizes responsible growth. He pledges to continue implementing the 2016 Comprehensive Land Use Plan to guide development and protect residents\u2019 quality of life\u30105\u3011. He prioritizes clean drinking water, air, and the protection of the river, beach, and ocean, opposing any pollutants that could harm the environment or public health\u30105\u3011. \n\nEducation is another focus; Zapple highlights that his three children were educated in the county\u2019s public schools and stresses the need for adequate funding to prepare a well\u2011educated workforce for the future\u30105\u3011. Economic growth is addressed through support for a healthy business climate, leveraging his experience as a small\u2011business owner to encourage clean\u2011industry development and job creation\u30105\u3011. \n\nZapple adopts a revenue\u2011neutral tax stance, insisting that taxpayers receive value for their contributions while maintaining essential services and infrastructure\u30105\u3011. Public safety is championed through support for effective, accountable law\u2011enforcement collaboration across city, county, and state agencies\u30105\u3011. He also advocates for responsible waste management and continued investment in the cultural arts as an economic driver for the county\u30105\u3011. \n\nIn the 2026 Democratic primary, Zapple ran alongside Salette Andrews, Judy Justice, and LeShonda Wallace for two available commissioner seats\u30101\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Rob Zapple (New Hanover County Board of ...](https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Zapple_(New_Hanover_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [5] [Issues \u2014 Elect Rob Zapple](https://www.electrobzapple.com/issues)\n- [6] [Candidate Profiles \u2013 NC Voter Guide](https://ncvoterguide.org/profiles/)\n- [8] [Hon. Robert Zapple | National Association of Counties](https://www.naco.org/people/hon-robert-zapple)\n- [9] [Robert Zapple - Petitions - New Hanover County Commission \u00b7 Change.org](https://www.change.org/decision-makers/robert-zapple-new-hanover-county-commission)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"new_hanover","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"New Hanover County Board Of Commissioners"},{"contest":"county_commission","county":"new_hanover","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"New Hanover County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Robert","fullname":"Robert Alexander Zapple","lastname":"Zapple","middlename":"Alexander","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"New Hanover County Board Of Commissioners","county":"new_hanover","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"new_hanover","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"New Hanover County Board Of Commissioners","county":"new_hanover","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"new_hanover","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"new_hanover","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"New Hanover County Board Of Commissioners","county":"new_hanover","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"new_hanover","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Rob Zapple, a Democratic incumbent commissioner, is running for re\u2011election to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"90d8db5830310a2a"}