{"biography":"David Allen Burnette is a Republican candidate for the Haywood County Board of Commissioners in the 2026 election, a three\u2011seat governing body that directs county policy and budgeting in Haywood County, North Carolina [1]. He is currently serving his first full term as a member of the Haywood County Board of Education, having been appointed in 2017; he holds the vice\u2011chair position and chairs the Building and Grounds Committee [12].\n\nBorn and raised in Canton, North Carolina, Burnette graduated from Pisgah High School and attended Haywood Community College [12]. He is married and is active in local community organizations, serving as president of the Pisgah High School boosters club and volunteering as a coach for the Canton Little League, Western North Carolina Little League, and for youth basketball, baseball, and soccer teams [12].\n\nProfessionally, Burnette is the president and chief executive officer of Telco Community Credit Union, and he also teaches blacksmithing at Haywood County Community College [12]. His experience in both the private sector and education informs his public service perspective.\n\nBurnette\u2019s political experience includes his appointment to the Haywood County Board of Education in 2017 and subsequent election to a full term, where he has focused on facilities and resources, supporting continued progress on the Central Office and advocating for the construction of an educational support center to consolidate services [12]. He previously ran for a seat on the Haywood County Schools board representing the Beaverdam District in the 2024 general election, appearing on the ballot as a nonpartisan candidate [2].\n\nIn seeking a seat on the County Board of Commissioners, Burnette aims to bring his background in finance, education, and community involvement to county\u2011wide decision\u2011making, leveraging his experience as a credit union leader and educator to address fiscal responsibility and local development.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [David Burnette (Haywood County Board of Commissioners, North Carolina, candidate 2026) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Burnette_(Haywood_County_Board_of_Commissioners,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2026))\n- [2] [David Burnette (Haywood County Schools, Beaverdam District, North Carolina, candidate 2024) - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/David_Burnette_(Haywood_County_Schools,_Beaverdam_District,_North_Carolina,_candidate_2024))\n- [12] [David Burnette platform & website | Haywood County Board of Education Member](https://branch.vote/races/2024-nc-general-election-nc-state-county-board-of-education-member-nc-county-haywood/candidates/david-burnette)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","county":"haywood","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Haywood County Board Of Commissioners"},{"contest":"county_commission","county":"haywood","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Haywood County Board Of Commissioners"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"David","fullname":"David Allen Burnette","lastname":"Burnette","middlename":"Allen","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Haywood County Board Of Commissioners","county":"haywood","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"haywood","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Haywood County Board Of Commissioners","county":"haywood","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"haywood","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"haywood","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_commission","contest_title":"Haywood County Board Of Commissioners","county":"haywood","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"haywood","office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","party":"REP","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"REP","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_commission","office_title":"County Commissioner","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"David Burnette, a credit union CEO and current Haywood County Board of Education member, is running as a Republican for the county Board of Commissioners in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"8c4e22dec23e62d3"}