Meet Bob Drach

Bob Drach and his family settled in New Hanover County in 2004. His kids went to school here. They played basketball, performed in regional bands, and made friends across the community.

Meet Bob Drach

Bob holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, an MBA and Certificate in Public Management from Stanford University and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He served as CEO of HMF Express from 2004 to 2020 and previously held leadership positions in business.

Bob Drach and his family settled in New Hanover County in 2004. He holds a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary and an MBA and Certificate in Public Management from Stanford University.

He served as CEO of HMF Express from 2004 to 2020 and previously held leadership positions in business. He also taught in Baltimore and Tanzania schools, served on the New Hanover County Board of Equalization and Review, and ran for North Carolina State Auditor in 2024.

Bob Drach previously served as chief executive officer of HMF Express. He also taught in schools in Baltimore and Tanzania and held leadership positions in business.

Bob previously ran for North Carolina State Auditor in 2024.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Managing Our Budget

As a Certified Management Accountant, strong financial management is my calling card. New Hanover County should focus on reducing debt service costs, which currently consume about 12% of the county budget. Lower debt obligations would free up resources for core services while improving the county’s long-term financial health.

Because voters in 2022 rejected a tax increase referendum, property taxes should be held at their current level.

Bob Drach For New Hanover County Commissioner — Issues

Tar Heel: As someone with extensive financial-management experience, what changes would you push for in county budgeting, transparency, and long-term fiscal planning?

Drach: Best practice for a county is to have general reserves of 17% to cover cash flow needs. I would restore this as a priority. Another thing that seems obvious is the difference between interest earned on the revenue stabilization fund, which is reported to be 2.25%, and the interest paid on recent debt issued by the county, which is reportedly 4.25%.

Drach - Libertarian Party of North Carolina

Drach: The County has made a series of bad financial decisions, and at this point can go in one of two different directions. One is to raise taxes, grow services faster than revenues support, and max out its debt capacity.

The other is to fit our spending into the current tax base, accelerate paydown of debt and pending school bond, and make New Hanover County a more affordable and sustainable place. I chose the second path, which would change the discussion from "How do we raise taxes?" to "How do we further reduce the burden of taxes?"

Lower debt obligations would free up resources for core services while improving the county’s long-term financial health.

Because voters in 2022 rejected a tax increase referendum, property taxes should be held at their current level. In order to increase spending on priorities, the county should seek greater efficiency across its operations and ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.

The County Endowment, which now exceeds $1.5 billion, deserves closer scrutiny.

In order to increase spending on priorities, the county should seek greater efficiency across its operations and ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.

The County Endowment, which now exceeds $1.5 billion, deserves closer scrutiny. Locking this money up was a policy mistake by the County and it should now explore all avenues to see that money is used to reduce debt, invest in public schools, and provide meaningful tax relief for residents.

Supports reducing county debt and restoring general reserves to 17% of spending for cash-flow needs.

Supports holding property taxes at current levels and finding operational efficiencies to fund county priorities.

Proposes examining county endowment funds for debt reduction, public-school investment, and property-tax relief.

- Supports reducing county debt and restoring general reserves to 17% of spending for cash-flow needs.
- Supports holding property taxes at current levels and finding operational efficiencies to fund county priorities.
- Proposes examining county endowment funds for debt reduction, public-school investment, and property-tax relief.

Economy

Tar Heel: For residents who value both personal freedom and practical local problem-solving, what concrete differences would they notice if you were on the Board?

Drach: Most constituents want the local government to make their lives better. Like, there are emergency services that kick in when we have hurricanes. The county helps fund education for over 20,000 students. Fire stations are less than 5 miles away from everywhere. Sheriff's deputies are on call 24 hours a day. We have parks and trails. There are some cost-effective safety net and diversion programs that help people get back on track. These are the programs that I would protect.

For capital spending, I can explain my approach by looking back at some recent County capital projects. I would have put more money into the failing public-school infrastructure and much less into new government offices, museum, libraries, and the out of the blue purchase of a local building for the already well-resourced community college.

Pledges to protect county emergency services, education funding, parks and trails, and cost-effective safety-net and diversion programs.

Would prioritize public-school infrastructure over new county offices, museums, libraries, and a community-college building purchase.

- Pledges to protect county emergency services, education funding, parks and trails, and cost-effective safety-net and diversion programs.
- Would prioritize public-school infrastructure over new county offices, museums, libraries, and a community-college building purchase.

Public Services

Drach: The county is landlocked and out of space. All effort should now go into preserving green space and maximizing the value (and hence tax revenue potential) of every parcel in the county. If we are going to have zoning laws and planning maps, they should not be gamed. When developers purchase property subject to zoning, they should not change the zoning ad hoc in a way that pushes costs onto others.

What Makes Sense
Protecting Our Environment

New Hanover County continues to grow, but growth should be managed responsibly and in the best interest of residents—not simply developers.

Developers should pay their fair share and should not receive unnecessary subsidies or special treatment.

Conservation areas should be protected from development and preserved for future generations.

Opposes ad hoc zoning changes that shift development costs onto others.

Supports requiring developers to pay their fair share and opposes unnecessary subsidies or special treatment.

- Opposes ad hoc zoning changes that shift development costs onto others.
- Supports requiring developers to pay their fair share and opposes unnecessary subsidies or special treatment.

Housing & Urban Development

Drach: The Republican County Commission failed to set capital spending priorities, leaving the county maxed-out on debt service while the capital needs of schools have been neglected. They mismanaged the financial windfall from the sale of the County Hospital — a big wasted opportunity. Republicans are "troubled" by Flock camera warrantless surveillance or make no comment at all while I'm on record to cancel the contract. Should I go on?

Tar Heel: Although the Board of Commissioners does not write state firearms law, how would your strong support for the right to bear arms influence your approach to local public-safety policies, county facilities, and cooperation with state or federal agencies?

Drach: I believe there is more opportunity for community-based policing. The County Commission is limited regarding direct policy. What the commission does is fud the Sherriff's office. The Sherriff is an elected equal branch of local government. But through budget discussions and funding of complementary social services, I will give this issue focus.

Plans to cancel the county's contract for Flock camera surveillance.

Supports expanding community-based policing through county budget discussions and funding for complementary social services.

- Plans to cancel the county's contract for Flock camera surveillance.
- Supports expanding community-based policing through county budget discussions and funding for complementary social services.

Public Safety

As of September 2, 2026, Bob Drach’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Developers should pay their fair share and should not receive unnecessary subsidies or special treatment.

Conservation areas should be protected from development and preserved for future generations.

Regarding the PFAS (“forever chemicals”) issue in the Cape Fear River, I support the attention incumbent Commissioner Rob Zapple has brought to this important issue and believe the county should remain engaged in protecting our community’s environmental health.

Tar Heel: You have highlighted the importance of keeping growth in line with infrastructure and protecting green space. What specific policies would you support or oppose to achieve that balance?

Drach: Recent county expenditures from the just mentioned Revenue Stabilization Fund to buy parcels along the Cape Fear River and for local parks were a great use of a small fraction of money set aside for this use. There is more money there for more purchases like these.

Conservation areas should be protected from development and preserved for future generations.

Regarding the PFAS (“forever chemicals”) issue in the Cape Fear River, I support the attention incumbent Commissioner Rob Zapple has brought to this important issue and believe the county should remain engaged in protecting our community’s environmental health.

Managing Our Budget

Supports protecting conservation areas from development and using revenue stabilization funds for riverfront and park land purchases.

Supports continued county engagement to protect community health from exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Cape Fear River.

- Supports protecting conservation areas from development and using revenue stabilization funds for riverfront and park land purchases.
- Supports continued county engagement to protect community health from exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the Cape Fear River.

Energy & the Environment

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Bob Drach

- Supports requiring developers to pay their fair share and opposes unnecessary subsidies or special treatment.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

LeAnn Pierce

LeShonda Wallace

Richard M. Collier

Rob Zapple

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.

Creates new laws and passes the budget for your county.