Rob Zapple

Rob Zapple is an American politician and building contractor serving as a member of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in North Carolina. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018 and 2022.

Early life and career Zapple is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He is a general contractor and the owner of a Wilmington-based residential and commercial building firm that specializes in historic renovation and custom homes. He has lived with his wife Michele in New Hanover County for more than two decades and have three children. In July 2026, readers of the Star-News voted Zapple the most influential elected official in the Wilmington area. In October 2024, Zapple was selected to the board of directors of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners as district director for District 4, comprising New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Columbus counties. In May 2025, he was nominated by Governor Josh Stein to the North Carolina Residential Code Council and was subsequently confirmed by the North Carolina Senate. Zapple said he was prepared to support the sale itself, which he called "a good deal", but objected to the foundation's bylaws and moved unsuccessfully to separate that question from the rest of the vote. He said the bylaws were "being rushed" and, as written, would "result in a massive transfer of wealth from the public to a privately controlled foundation."

Electoral history

2012 campaign Zapple was one of four Democratic candidates in the May 2012 primary election for the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. Republican Derrick Hickey led until the final precinct reported, and a countywide recount confirmed Zapple's win with a margin of just 186 votes.

2018 election Zapple and Julia Olson-Boseman advanced from a three-candidate Democratic primary in May 2018. In the November general election Zapple received the most votes. The result unseated Republican incumbent Skip Watkins and gave Democrats a 3–2 majority on the board for the first time since the 1980s. In the November general election, LeAnn Pierce (R) placed first with 47,462 votes and Zapple second with 45,144, securing him a third term.

2026 election Zapple led the March 3, 2026 Democratic primary with 11,027 votes (30.4 percent); he and LeShonda Wallace (10,700) won the party's two nominations. They face Republicans LeAnn Pierce and Richard Collier and Libertarian Bob Drach in the November 3, 2026 general election.