Meet Bob Drach - Libertarian Party of North Carolina Candidate for New Hanover County Commissioner
My Position on Flock in NC, by: Bob Drach
NH County Considers a Debt Increase. Here are some problems with that., by: Bob Drach
The Political Freedom Fighters Podcast - Episode 42 (Introducing Bob Drach)
Bob's Interview with the Tar Heel Libertarian:
Tar Heel: With a physics degree from William & Mary, an MBA and certificate in Public Management from Stanford, and a long career in financial management, consulting, and executive leadership, what motivated you to run for New Hanover County Board of Commissioners?
Bob Drach: My professional and educational background are well suited for the job, and New Hanover County needs new, independent leadership. County residents know that the prior Boards made a hash of the Hospital sale, with over a billion dollars locked up in an Endowment that has done little to help. Meanwhile spending priorities have deferred schools, and the county's debt capacity is maxed out. So much opportunity was lost compared to what could have been. Many people feel like the costs of growth in the county have shifted onto longtime residents. I could go on, but the main point is that the county needs new leadership from an independent-minded candidate like me.
Tar Heel: You previously ran for North Carolina State Auditor. How did that experience shape your decision to focus on county-level office this cycle?
Drach: Tip O'Neill famously said: "All politics is local." I have a strong base of friends and supporters in New Hanover County. They don't like what they see at all levels of government, and they know I have the skill set to be a net positive in our otherwise broken political system.
I also learned that I can be a strong candidate. Of 407 Libertarian candidates nationwide in the 2024 election, I received the 7th highest vote total. By this measure, I'm one of the best third-party candidates in the nation. In New Hanover County, I received over 5,100 votes, which is 10% of the total I need to win this election cycle. As in the Auditor race, I may be the most qualified candidate. Based on the spending of winning candidates in past elections, I have the budget to win.
That said, it will take a lot of work and some luck in terms of the other candidates in this race to win it. But I am looking forward to engaging voters, turning some heads, and using the campaign to spread our passion for liberty!
Tar Heel: As a longtime New Hanover County resident with Peace Corps experience and private sector leadership, how has living here informed the problems you most want to address as a commissioner?
Drach: As a resident, I've been unhappy with the financial mistakes of past Commissions, especially in capital investment decisions and the outcome of the Hospital sale. I know I can do better. Of my many experiences, one that particularly qualifies me is the 4 years I spent on the New Hanover County Board of Equalization and Review. This Board meets hundreds of taxpayers who feel their taxes are too high. The Board also must defend the system that raises money to pay for essential government services, like Public Health and Safety. This is why I want every dollar to be spent well, and I want full transparency for the budget. I want more answers to why Endowment money was locked away from taxpayers and I want spending on schools to be more student-centered and in line with the demographics of the county.
Tar Heel: What personal or professional experiences most reinforced your commitment to the non-aggression principle and limited government?
Drach: I've seen well-intended government programs get abused. I've seen government policies hurt families. I've seen innocent people entrapped. I've seen many opportunities for the government to collaborate with citizens but by taking an adversarial approach they make things harder, more expensive, and more acrimonious. There are so many things that we want the Government to do to make our lives better, but the Government is just not the best means in many cases. You might say that I share the progressive instinct to have a society that helps those in most need, but I realize that not all those solutions are going to come from the government.
Tar Heel: You have emphasized good financial management as the foundation of good government. How does that principle guide your approach to county budgeting, debt, and taxation?
Drach: In New Hanover County in 2022, a sales tax increase referendum was defeated. This is a clear signal from county residents that they believe the local government is funded at the level they want. And this is a wealthy, growing county, so we have a lot of money. The County budget is $1/2 billion. We can do a lot of good with $1/2 billion. A lot of competing interests can be funded. But not everything can be funded, and there are many things the Government is just not that good at. One quick example of poor financial management in the County. There is a bond referendum this year for funding school construction. In that referendum they initially put in $5 MM to buy new computers. But computers have a life span of only 5 years, while the bonds will be paid off over 20 years. No person in their right mind would take out a 20-year loan for something that will be gone in 5 years. But that is what they proposed.
Tar Heel: In local government, decisions often affect daily life more directly than federal ones. How do you balance principled limited-government views with the practical needs of county residents?
Drach: Well put. An anarchist might say defund everything. But people elect the government to do things for the public good. The trick is to do those things that have broad support and which the government can do well. I earlier said that all politics are local. I should have said that all politics should be local. Instead, only a fraction of sales taxes is controlled locally, and the rest on the local budget is funded with property taxes, which are a fraction of the average citizens' overall tax burden. Locally government delivers way more bang for the buck than any other level of government.
Tar Heel: How would you treat constituents and fellow commissioners who strongly disagree with you, and why is that approach important?
Drach: Respectfully. First and foremost, we are neighbors. We have Commissioners and other candidates who have done great things for the community. Rob Zapple has been excellent on the PFAS issue. LeAnn Pierce is a leader in the local business community. LaShonda Wallace is a highly respected local activist. Where we agree, we can implement stronger policies. Where we disagree, we need to follow the law and first do no harm.
Tar Heel: The Libertarian Party has long held that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right that government should not infringe. Why do you believe the Libertarian Party is the only major political force that consistently and fully protects that right?
Drach: I'm going to expand the rights that only the Libertarian Party consistently and fully protects - The Bill of Rights. Right now, in New Hanover County we are fighting to bring to a vote the contract authorizing Flock cameras across the county. The incumbents are reluctant to take up the issue. I've given the only full-throated defense of the Fourth Amendment rights against warrantless search. This is not a tough call. In 1791, when the Fourth Amendment was ratified, warrantless search was a problem. Technology and search on steroids have only made the threat worse. So it is with all the rights that Congress felt compelled to defend by amendment, especially the first 10 amendments.
Tar Heel: Senate Bill 50 (“Freedom to Carry NC”) would have established permit-less concealed carry. Governor Stein vetoed it, the Senate overrode the veto, but the Republican-controlled House has failed to complete the override—even while overriding other vetoes. What does this failure tell New Hanover County voters about the difference between Republican rhetoric on the Second Amendment and actual results?
Drach: I think this says more about the 14 legislative districts where representatives abstained or voted against the legislation - yes, most of them Republican. If 1/3 of your party abstains from a vote, then you need to ask why. Many people are fearful of guns, so part of winning on this issue is communicating the track record of responsible gun ownership. Second amendment supporters need to continue demonstrating and promoting responsible gun ownership and events like the recent Idaho In-N=Out shooting where a private citizen intervened to prevent mass casualties.
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.
Tar Heel: How do you respond to local concerns about public safety while remaining faithful to the principle that law-abiding citizens should not need government permission to exercise a fundamental right?
Drach: This is an area where civil organizations need to step up. Advocating for limited government is only half the story. We need to advocate for the institutions that will address the issues that the Government chronically fails to address. And I don't mean funding a civil society. I mean speaking it and living it. Libertarians must fight the bad rap of being too self-oriented. It is just the opposite. Libertarians are required to be responsible citizens in every way. We freely associate but always do so with the best interests of our communities. We just don't want to pay taxes for them to be used against us or to harm other people. Like at the local level, many people are questioning why the county is funding warrantless government surveillance.
Tar Heel: New Hanover County faces pressures from growth, infrastructure needs, and rising costs. How would you approach debt reduction, tax policy, and spending priorities differently from the major-party approaches?
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.
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. From the hospital sale, I would have paid down all county bonds and put more in the currently $300 MM pot called the Revenue Stabilization Fund to be used directly for the benefit of county residents and to mitigate taxes.
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.
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%. If the county moved $200 million from savings to pay down debt, this would be a pickup of 2% on $200 MM, or about $4 MM a year.
Tar Heel: How should the county approach services such as education funding support, public safety, and conservation without expanding bureaucracy or increasing the tax burden?
Drach: The county spends half a billion dollars a year. There is a lot of good we can do for half a billion dollars. But once you are spending at that level, you see that there are good programs that can be expanded and other unmet needs that could be funded, and suddenly half a billion is not enough.
At home, when expenses exceed our budget, we prioritize. In business, we sometimes use a cost-benefit analysis. Both of these techniques can work in the government as well.
Tar Heel: What role should the Board of Commissioners play in protecting civil liberties and property rights at the local level?
Drach: The civil liberties issues at the local level are not systemic but often arise as unintended consequences or botched emergency responses. Think Covid masks, warrantless mass surveillance networks, homeless policies and errors by child protective services. When these happen, you need a Council member who comes from a place of freedom first to confront the policy, or agent, or bureaucrat who is coming from a different place. I think that when other board members and county staff understand that my position is freedom first, it will have them think twice before proposing ideas that violate individual rights.
Tar Heel: Running as a Libertarian for county commissioner against major-party candidates is challenging. What is your strategy for reaching unaffiliated and independent voters in New Hanover County?
Drach: My approach is very tactical. I'm starting with politically engaged independent voters and messaging to unaffiliated voters. My website and palm cards literally say: "I'm here to represent unaffiliated and independent-minded voters." I'm lucky in this race, so consequential to local businesses, news media, and activists, that there are several high-profile forums where I will be on stage with the major party candidates. That is an opportunity to demonstrate that voters are not stuck with "either / or," and to ask for their support.
I do still need help, especially placing yard signs, canvassing at the polls, and arranging meet and greet events with friends and neighbors. If you are passionate about politics to the point where you are reading this sentence, go to my website and fill out the volunteer form. I would love your help even more than your financial support. https://www.drach.us/get-involved.
Tar Heel: When voters ask why they should choose a Libertarian over a Republican who claims to support limited government and fiscal responsibility, what is your clearest answer?
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: Looking at the stalled SB 50 override and broader state-level performance, what does that experience say about the need for consistent Libertarian representation even at the county level?
Drach: The stalled SB50 veto over-ride tells us that both Rs and Ds see the role of the state is to control citizens rather than enable them or serve them. This is where the Libertarian message applies at every level of government. Especially at the local level, where people value their freedoms, want their property tax low, want good school choices, enjoy the parks, call the sheriff when needed, and live the most important part of their lives.
Tar Heel: If elected, what would be your top two or three measurable priorities in your first term on the Board of Commissioners?
Drach: I would like to see public safety and school test scores improve while tax rates go down. Crime statistics are a good proxy for public safety. School test scores that go down should trigger curriculum and methods changes. Charter, private, and home school choices should be welcomed, not feared. And while tax rates go down, the tax base can increase because of policies that encourage sales growth and policies that increase the net asset value of property throughout the county.
Tar Heel: How would you stay accountable to New Hanover County residents and resist the pressures that often pull local officials toward higher spending or expanded government?
Drach: The #1 reason I'm running and the #1 policy position I want to be famous for is good financial management. We do this and the next generation of Commissioners will have a choice to shrink government faster, reduce property taxes, or reinvest in programs that demonstrate a strong public good.
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.
Tar Heel: How would you work with (or push back against) other commissioners and county staff when principles of limited government and fiscal restraint are at stake?
Drach: New Hanover County is in a unique position with the influx of cash from the recent Hospital sale. We now have an Endowment that should support community investments and private sector solutions for some of the services the County previously considered. There is also a significant Revenue Stabilization Fund that should be deployed before any tax increases should be considered. Historically, the County has been restrained in using these funds. But my push back would be, if something is not worth spending money we have in the bank, then why would we ever ask taxpayers for the same?
Tar Heel: Looking beyond one election cycle, what long-term change in New Hanover County’s governance or financial health would make you feel your campaign had been a success?
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?"
Tar Heel: If you could leave New Hanover County voters with one clear message about why the Libertarian approach — especially on the right to bear arms, fiscal restraint, and limiting government power — is more reliable than what the two major parties have delivered, what would that message be?
Drach: My message is "Let's start by fixing the problems right here, in our front yards."
People know that politics is broken at the national level. Culture wars. Debilitating debt driving unaffordable inflation. And the federal government is usurping rights that belong to the states and the people. How can we affect that locally? We start with good financial management locally. We limit the reach of local government into our lives and our pockets, and we elect leaders who are not stuck in the partisan political fray.
If voters don't think we can do better in the County, if voters are happy with the status quo, then there are two incumbent running. Elect them. But if you think the County can do better, if you are looking for a different approach to politics, then elect someone who is new, different, and highly qualified for the job.
Vote for Bob Drach for New Hanover County Commissioner.
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