Current Bentonville City Council members Bill Burckart and Holly Hook have been re-elected to their seats for another four-year term.

This year, there are four Council seats set to expire. Gayatri Agnew, Ward 1, and Chris Sooter, Ward 2, both ran unopposed for re-election. Council members represent one of four wards but are elected at-large, so all residents vote in each race. 

Ward 3

In Ward 3, Councilman Burckart faced challenger Sara Folkins. Burckart, a Bentonville native, has served on City Council since 2008. He is the owner of Burckart Construction, Inc., a local development company, and has served in numerous roles such as president of the Arkansas Home Builders Association and member of the housing affordability workgroup, airport board and animal shelter task force.

Wednesday morning results showed Burckart with 10,081 votes, or 56.11%. Folkins had 7,884 votes, or 43.89%.

“We’re very appreciative of all of the support that we received last night, and our goal is to — simply today — begin working on the challenges that we have,” Burckart said Wednesday morning. “There’s not any time to waste, and my intention is to work diligently, one challenge at a time.”

In a pre-election candidate Q&A, Burckart wrote that the single biggest issue facing Bentonville is infrastructure, including housing, roads, and sewer and water maintenance. 

“We need clear policy decisions and commitment to solve the challenges we face,” he wrote. “We must fix the supply imbalance in our housing … We must keep up with our needed repairs and replacements to our infrastructure through better financial planning for the depreciating assets. We need to plan and start more widening projects for our roads and begin the process now for all new roads and locations.”

Folkins is a retired Spanish teacher who has lived in Bentonville for seven years. “I have a passion to maintain the culture of Bentonville for my children and grandchildren,” she wrote in the candidate Q&A.

Ward 4

In Ward 4, Jocelyn Lampkin ran against Councilwoman Hook. A third candidate, Nick Slagle, appeared on the ballot, however, before the election he said he would be unable to accept the seat.

Reports show Hook with 10,277 votes, or 57.59%, and Lampkin with 5,097 votes, or 28.56%. Slagle held the remaining 13.84% of votes.

Hook, who has lived in Bentonville for 27 years, has been a council member since 2021. She is the director of donor relations and marketing for 90.9 KLRC.

“I’m grateful for all those who support me, and I’m looking forward to representing my constituents — hearing them and letting them have a seat at the table so that their voice will be heard,” Hook said Tuesday night.

In the candidate Q&A, Hook wrote that Bentonville is experiencing “growing pains.”

“Over the past year, city planners, City Council and constituents have worked together tirelessly to finalize a land use plan to alleviate some of these growing pains we are experiencing,” she wrote.

Lampkin, who has lived in Bentonville for 17 years, is a manager in anti-corruption for Walmart.

The eight Council members are paid $578 biweekly.