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Judy Justice is from Swansboro, North Carolina. She has a master's degree in school administration. She moved back to New Hanover County in 2016.

Judy is a retired educator. She worked in public schools for over 30 years, where she served as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

Judy Justice (New Hanover County Board of Education, North ...

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Judy is currently a member of the New Hanover School Board. She was first elected in 2018. Previously, she ran for the North Carolina State House, but did not win. 

Supports collecting impact fees from developers if the North Carolina Legislature changes state law to allow it.

Believes the current tax rate is insufficient to support New Hanover’s population growth and maintain quality of life.

Supports stronger regional partnerships with Pender and Brunswick counties, especially on public transportation and cross-county public-private initiatives.

Wants to increase partnership between the county and the City of Wilmington.

- Supports collecting impact fees from developers if the North Carolina Legislature changes state law to allow it.
- Believes the current tax rate is insufficient to support New Hanover’s population growth and maintain quality of life.
- Supports stronger regional partnerships with Pender and Brunswick counties, especially on public transportation and cross-county public-private initiatives.
- Wants to increase partnership between the county and the City of Wilmington.

Economy

Believes in properly funding public schools by utilizing available resources and addressing the lack of financial support from local and state officials.

Supports fully funding public schools by using available resources and addressing funding gaps at the local and state levels.

Believes the county commission should review and address concerns about quality and safety related to Novant Health’s takeover of New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Wants New Hanover's $1.3 billion endowment to be more transparent and "responsive to [the county's] needs."

- Supports fully funding public schools by using available resources and addressing funding gaps at the local and state levels.
- Believes the county commission should review and address concerns about quality and safety related to Novant Health’s takeover of New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
- Wants New Hanover's $1.3 billion endowment to be more transparent and "responsive to [the county's] needs."

Public Services

Supports providing funding for affordable housing initiatives and other social services.

- Supports providing funding for affordable housing initiatives and other social services.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports programs like Port City United to address poverty and decrease crime and violence.

- Supports programs like Port City United to address poverty and decrease crime and violence.

Public Safety

Believes overdevelopment is a major issue in the county and opposes approving new projects when infrastructure and public services cannot support the growth.

- Believes overdevelopment is a major issue in the county and opposes approving new projects when infrastructure and public services cannot support the growth.

Transportation & Infrastructure

As of January 2, 2026, Judy Justice’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Judy Justice

Rafael Perez

Buket Urgen

Plans to re-establish the EDI committee to promote equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in New Hanover County schools, while seeking financial resources to support these initiatives without diverting funds from other programs.

Supports targeted redistricting and effective magnet programs to create economically integrated schools, and advocates for using hospital funds and countywide bonds to alleviate school overcrowding.

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LeShonda Wallace is from Newark, New Jersey. 

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LeShonda Wallace has a Ph.D in public health from Walden University, a master's in nursing from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University.

LeShonda is a public health clinician. She works at the New Hanover County Health Department.

LeShonda is a public health clinician. She is also the founder and executive director of SEEDS, which supports individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

Dr. LeShonda Wallace previously ran for New Hanover County commissioner in 2026 but did not win.

This is LeShonda's first time running for public office.

Supports initiatives focused on small business and entrepreneur development, job training, and workforce development.

Said, "I do not think the current tax rate is sufficient to support services that provide real benefits to residents."

Supports managing new development to balance economic growth with infrastructure capacity and environmental protection.

- Supports initiatives focused on small business and entrepreneur development, job training, and workforce development.
- Said, "I do not think the current tax rate is sufficient to support services that provide real benefits to residents."
- Supports managing new development to balance economic growth with infrastructure capacity and environmental protection.

- Promotes quality and timely healthcare.

Supports investing in affordable housing and protecting low- and moderate-income residents.

Supports reforming the zoning code to allow for accessory development units (ADUs) and duplexes.

Supports converting vacant or underused commercial buildings into residential housing through adaptive reuse.

- Supports investing in affordable housing and protecting low- and moderate-income residents.
- Supports reforming the zoning code to allow for accessory development units (ADUs) and duplexes.
- Supports converting vacant or underused commercial buildings into residential housing through adaptive reuse.

As of January 2, 2026, LeShonda Wallace’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- Supports transit-orientated development.

Is concerned about water quality and "responsible land use."

- Is concerned about water quality and "responsible land use."

LeShonda Wallace

LeShonda is a family nurse practitioner on New Hanover Regional Medical Center's HIV Care Team. She is also the executive director of Seeds of Healing, a nonprofit focused on HIV/AIDS awareness and empowering affected women through workshops and training. 

LeShonda previously ran for New Hanover County commissioner in 2026 but did not win.

Said, "Dr. Wallace values policies that promote public health, economic opportunities, and inclusive growth."

Rob is a graduate of the University of Virginia. He and his wife, Michele, have been married 38 years. They have three children; Holden, Zoey and Jack, all of whom have graduated from North Carolina universities, and four grandchildren. Rob and his wife Michele have lived and worked in Wilmington for the past 24 years.

Rob Zapple is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Rob is a member of the Downtown Wilmington Rotary Club and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Rob lives in Wilmington with his wife Michele.

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Rob is a general contractor and owner of Rob Zapple Design and Build, Inc.

Rob is currently a member of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners. He was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He previously ran for a position on the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in 2012 but did not win.

Rob Zapple (New Hanover County Board of Commissioners, North ...

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Promises to ensure the government operates within its budget.

- Promises to ensure the government operates within its budget.

As a County Commissioner, worked to increase funding for local non-profits and doubled the number of pre-K classrooms.

As a county commissioner, increased funding for local non-profits and doubled the number of pre-K classrooms.

Advocates for transparency in how funds from the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center are used.

As a New Hanover County Commissioner, Zapple voted to fast-track the development of Hanover Pines Nature Park.

- Supported increasing pay for teachers.
- As a county commissioner, increased funding for local non-profits and doubled the number of pre-K classrooms.
- Advocates for transparency in how funds from the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center are used.
- As a New Hanover County Commissioner, Zapple voted to fast-track the development of Hanover Pines Nature Park.

Supports the creation of affordable housing.

Supports the continued creation of affordable housing.

- Supports the continued creation of affordable housing.

Supports a strong, transparent, and accountable law enforcement effort, and encourages communication and cooperation between different law enforcement agencies to ensure community safety.

- Supports a strong, transparent, and accountable law enforcement effort, and encourages communication and cooperation between different law enforcement agencies to ensure community safety.

Supports increased funding for transportation projects such as multi-use trails, bike paths, public transportation, rail realignment, and a new Cape Fear River bridge.

- Supports increased funding for transportation projects such as multi-use trails, bike paths, public transportation, rail realignment, and a new Cape Fear River bridge.

Opposes allowing pollutants in waterways or air.

Believes in balancing economic growth with environmental conservation and maintaining quality of life.

Supports stricter environmental regulations.

- Opposes allowing pollutants in waterways or air.
- Believes in balancing economic growth with environmental conservation and maintaining quality of life.
- Supports stricter environmental regulations.

Rob Zapple

Rob is a graduate of the University of Virginia. Rob is a member of the Downtown Wilmington Rotary Club and serves on the Board of Trustees for the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. Rob lives in Wilmington with his wife Michele.

Rob is a general contractor and owner of Rob Apple Design and Build, Inc.

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Salette is from Wilmington, North Carolina. She attended The University of Arizona and Mercer University School of Engineering. She has a bachelor’s degree in arts from The University of Arizona and a master’s degree in science from Mercer University School of Engineering. She and her husband, David Andrews, have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Salette Andrews - Wilmington, NC

Salette Andrews has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree from Mercer University School of Engineering. She lives in Wilmington with her husband, David, and has three grown children and four grandchildren.

Salette currently runs an estate jewelry business. Previously, she has worked as a technical communicator in the aerospace, semiconductor, and medical software industries. Salette served in the United States Air Force as an Air Traffic Control Officer.

Salette Andrews is currently a member of the Wilmington City Council. She previously served as an elected councilmember in Arizona.

Salette Andrews currently serves as a member of the Wilmington City Council. She was first elected in 2023. She was previously served as an elected council member in Arizona.

As of January 2, 2026, Salette Andrews’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports expanded access to early voting and free transportation to polling places.

- Supports expanded access to early voting and free transportation to polling places.

Supports expanding housing options by developing smartly, partnering with nonprofits and private sectors, and ensuring land use policies align with real affordability goals.

Believes the County's withdrawal from mapping service capacity and coordinating providers hampers nonprofits and agencies' ability to meet demand.

- Supports expanding housing options by developing smartly, partnering with nonprofits and private sectors, and ensuring land use policies align with real affordability goals.
- Believes the County's withdrawal from mapping service capacity and coordinating providers hampers nonprofits and agencies' ability to meet demand.

Supports affordable housing and expanded access to social services.

- Supports affordable housing and expanded access to social services.

Believes infrastructure, including roads, stormwater systems, and utilities, is strained from rapid growth and deferred maintenance.

- Believes infrastructure, including roads, stormwater systems, and utilities, is strained from rapid growth and deferred maintenance.

Supports holding polluters accountable, strengthening environmental regulations, and enforcing environmental laws.

- Supports holding polluters accountable, strengthening environmental regulations, and enforcing environmental laws.

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Salette Andrews

Salette Andrews has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree from Mercer University School of Engineering. She lives in Wilmington with her husband, David and has three grown children and four grandchildren.

- 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.

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New Hanover County Commissioner, Democratic Primary

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