Election results: Republicans sweep Burke County school board

The Burke County Board of Education will have four new faces in December after more than 75% of the county's registered voters turned up at the polls for the 2024 general election.

Results are complete but unofficial until canvassing on Nov. 15.

Rockett takes central district seat

Unaffiliated incumbent Don Hemstreet lost his central district seat on the Burke County Board of Education to Republican Sonya Rockett.

Rockett brought home 27,944 votes (66.67%) to Hemstreet's 13,969 (33.33%) votes, according to data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

Rockett, who attended East Burke High School and Western Piedmont Community College, thanked voters for their confidence in her. She said she couldn't have done it without her family, her fellow Republicans and God.

"I feel doubly honored that I won this race because I know I was competing against a good man," Rockett said of her opponent, Hemstreet, who has served on the board since 2011.

Wycoff keeps at-large seat Republican

Newcomer Republican Jamey Wycoff defeated Democrat Sharon Ivester Everhart to take the board's at-large seat. Wycoff first defeated incumbent Seth Hunt in the March primary.

Wycoff got 30,290 votes (69.08%) to Everhart's 13,557 votes (30.92%).

A former police officer and co-owner of Robey's Fabrics, Wycoff graduated from East Burke High School in 1996 and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute in 2020.

"I appreciate everybody coming out and voting. ... I look forward to Day 1, going in and working with Dr. Swan and the rest of the administration," Wycoff said.

Camp, Beck thankful for support in unopposed bids

Two more newcomers will join the board when Brad Camp and Jeffrey Reid Beck take their seats.

Camp, who defeated fellow Republican Susan Jones in the March primary for the board's western district seat, worked as a therapist, social worker, counselor and teacher before retiring. He netted 34,577 votes.

He said he ran for office because he didn't agree with Democratic party's platform.

"It's important to me, as a school board member, to educate our kids," Camp said. "It's also important to me as a Christian Republican to vote biblically and to save our country from the direction it's going."

He said he is there to support every parent, including those who don't agree with him.

"Any parent who's got something they need to say to me, I would be glad to listen to them, and I'm glad to help them and support them," Camp said. "I'm not just here to support the parents who voted for me or the citizens who voted for me. ... I work for the parents and the kids as a school board member."

Jeffrey Beck defeated incumbent Wendi Craven in the March primary for the board's eastern district seat. He did not face an opponents in the general election.

Beck, who is a member of Winkler's Grove Baptist Church and works for Fulenwider Enterprises, is originally from Randolph County. Beck got 34,515 votes.

He said he was thankful for support throughout his campaign.

"The school board is gonna serve all of our county, not just certain groups," Beck said.

New school in eastern Burke top issue

The elected candidates all agreed a new school in the eastern end of Burke County will likely be the most important issue the board faces.

Rockett and Beck both said they wanted constituents in the east to be heard before any decisions were made.

Burke County Public Schools officials previously said public meetings would be held as part of the process. The school district received a $42 million grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction that can only be used for construction of a new school.

Camp said he also believes the board will need to continue to throw its support behind teachers and students.

"We need to continue to make that a priority in our county, that we get the best teachers that we can, that we help them the most that we can, that we empower them to teach the best that they can ... and also work on the students so they can do their best learning," Camp said.

Chrissy Murphy is a staff writer and can be reached at or at 828-432-8941.

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