The owners of Farmin’ on Front had to shut their doors indefinitely shortly after Hurricane Florence. Since then, there has not been a grocery store in the downtown area, something Frank Christopher Meares says is needed. That’s why Meares and his partner, Joseph Allen, are opening up a store called Better Basket.

Grocery store will be back in downtown Wilmington after more than two years

Frank Christopher Meares is opening Better Basket, a grocery store, with his partner, Joseph Allen.

A grocery store will be back in downtown Wilmington after more than ...

Recent Experience
Candidate for New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Candidate
2026
View Position
New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Incumbent
2023 – 2026
New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board
2019 – 2022
Other Candidates for New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board
Cate Calson

Frank Christopher Meares — New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board

Incumbent Evan Folds was the top-vote getter in the race for Soil and Water Board, while Incumbent Frank Meares was second.

Preliminary election results show incumbent Evan Folds as the top vote-getter in the race for the New Hanover County Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors, with fellow incumbent Frank Christopher Meares taking second. These preliminary results mean incumbents Folds and Meares will continue serving on the board. Challenger Lance Capps did not secure a spot on the board.

Incumbents Evan Folds and Frank Meares win another term on Soil and Water Board

Frank currently serves on the New Hanover County Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors. He won another term in 2022 and is serving his second term.

Frank Christopher Meares — New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District Board | GoodParty.org

What does the Soil and Water Board do? - WHQR

2026 North Carolina General Election

Soil and water is just something people don’t pay a whole lot of attention to. That’s why I’m continuing to run. I want to be that member to continue to put forth BMPS [best management practices]. I’ve continued to vote to have more of these BMP projects done. If I’m re-elected I can continue what I’m doing.

What the Soil and Water Conservation District is, and why it’s on your ballot

Incumbent Frank Christopher Meares said that if elected, his priorities would include getting a bill passed in Raleigh that would prohibit all point-source pollution, like from factories.

“If you dump anything into our waterways, and you are found to have done it, you will have to pay not just the restitution for those that you've harmed. But you will also have to pay for the cleanup, you will have to fix the problem where it has been dumped at,” he said.

What to know about this year's candidates for Soil and Water Board

Voted to expand best management practice projects and wants to continue advancing them.

Calls for legislation prohibiting pollution from specific sources and requiring polluters to pay restitution, cleanup costs, and repairs.

- Voted to expand best management practice projects and wants to continue advancing them.
- Calls for legislation prohibiting pollution from specific sources and requiring polluters to pay restitution, cleanup costs, and repairs.

Energy & the Environment

What do you hope to accomplish, if elected? My biggest goal is I really want to get as many people to not just vote for me but to vote for soil and water in general. My goal is to get citizens involved more. Have them standing with us.

Incumbent Frank Christopher Meares said the board’s lack of enforcement authority is how it should be–that power should be reserved for state representatives.

“We cannot force them to listen to us. And nor should we necessarily be able to, because that's not our role,” he said.

“Our role is information and education.”

What does the Soil and Water Board do

Wants to increase citizen involvement in Soil and Water Conservation District activities.

Believes the board should provide conservation information and education rather than enforcement authority.

- Wants to increase citizen involvement in Soil and Water Conservation District activities.
- Believes the board should provide conservation information and education rather than enforcement authority.

Administration

Frank Christopher Meares

As of September 2, 2026, Frank Christopher Meares did not have a website or any information online.

As of September 2, 2026, Frank Christopher Meares’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Grocery store will be back in downtown Wilmington after more than two years | WECT

Preliminary election results show incumbent Evan Folds as the top vote-getter in the race for the New Hanover County Soil and Water District Board of Supervisors, with fellow incumbent Frank Christopher Meares taking second. These preliminary results mean incumbents Folds and Meares will continue serving on the board. Challenger Lance Capps did not secure a spot on the board. Folds pulled 36% of the vote and Meares pulled 35% to secure the top two spots, while Capps pulled 26%.

Incumbents Evan Folds and Frank Meares win another term on Soil and Water Board | WHQR

Why are you running? For me right now, I had run for the Board of Education last time, and of course, I didn’t get that. I understand they have a lot of other people that were running that were really good, but that doesn’t mean that my soil and water would go away. So even when I was doing that I was looking to stay with soil and water. When everything came through and it came time to run again I already knew I would run.

What the Soil and Water Conservation District is, and why it’s on your ballot | Port City Daily

Frank currently serves as a New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor. He previously ran for the Board of Education but did not win.

Mickey Mouse for Mayor: Here are all the New Hanover County write ...

As a board supervisor, voted to expand projects using best management practices.

Calls for legislation to prohibit pollution from specific sources and require polluters to compensate those harmed, fund cleanup, and remedy damage.

Supports development informed by water-flow studies to prevent flooding while allowing affordable housing.

Advocates legislation to hold companies responsible for harm caused by discharging chemicals that have not been fully identified into water.

Sahid Burgos

Buket Urgen

Cate Calson

DeAndre Corniffe

Kelly McConnell

- A soil and water conservation district supervisor is 1 member of a board of 5 supervisors that works to improve the soil and water quality in the county through education. 
- The board of supervisors provide technical and financial assistance to help land users maintain their land and surrounding ecosystems. 
- The board of supervisors design long term conservation programs that teach environmental care, pollution reduction, and provide incentives for using these practices, especially for agricultural workers. 
- The board of supervisors provide short term educational services like competitions, field days, and workshops to educate the public on conservation. 
- Soil and water conservation district supervisors are elected to 4 year terms in non-partisan races. However, 2 of the board members are appointed by the state soil and water commission. 

Member of board of supervisors that creates aid programs and educates people on environmental conservation. 