MANTEO — Chowan County resident Joseph “Joe” Hollowell Jr., a former county commissioner with decades of involvement in local and regional government, was sworn in Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, to serve on the North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission.
Retired Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett administered the oath of office during the commission’s meeting at the Dare County Government Complex in Manteo. State Sen. Norm Sanderson, who represents Chowan County as part of Senate District 2, and Washington County Commission Chair John Spruill were among those who attended the ceremony.
Hollowell was appointed to the commission by the North Carolina General Assembly earlier this year for a term expiring June 30, 2030.
His appointment was included in House Bill 1237, an appointments bill approved by lawmakers in June.
The appointment places a northeastern North Carolina resident with previous local-government experience on a state board that makes decisions affecting development and environmental protection along the coast.
Hollowell previously served on the Chowan County Board of Commissioners and has held leadership roles with the Albemarle Commission, the regional council of governments serving northeastern North Carolina. Records from the Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine program show that Hollowell was serving as both a county commissioner and chairman of the Albemarle Commission Regional Council of Governments when he joined an Albemarle citizens advisory committee in 1989.
His new position also has a direct connection to the geography of his home county.
Chowan County borders the Albemarle Sound, one of the major waterways of northeastern North Carolina and part of the larger Albemarle-Pamlico estuarine system. Hollowell has previously spoken publicly about the region’s coastal identity. During the General Assembly’s 2019 redistricting process, he urged lawmakers to keep counties bordering the Albemarle Sound together with other coastal counties.
The Coastal Resources Commission establishes policies for North Carolina’s Coastal Management Program and adopts rules implementing the Coastal Area Management Act, commonly known as CAMA, and the state Dredge and Fill Act.
Its responsibilities include designating areas of environmental concern, establishing rules governing development in those areas and certifying local land-use plans.
The 13-member commission includes members representing a range of coastal interests and areas of expertise. Nine seats are designated for people with experience in areas such as land development, coastal engineering, marine science, coastal businesses, local government, agriculture, commercial and recreational fishing, forestry and wildlife, while four members serve at large.
Hollowell took the oath as the commission began a two-day meeting Wednesday in Manteo. The meeting continued Thursday, Aug. 27.
Among the issues scheduled for consideration during the August meeting were coastal erosion and hardened shoreline structures, the Coastal Habitat Protection Plan and other matters involving development and natural resources along the North Carolina coast.
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