Mario is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He attended E. E. Smith High School. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Mario BE Benavente has a dual bachelor's degree in peace, war, & defense and communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law.

Mario is an associate attorney at Rand & Gregory, where he focuses on family law and criminal defense. He previously served two terms as a Fayetteville City Council member.

Here's Who Has Filed For Office in Cumberland County's 2026 ...

Mario BE Benavente is currently a City Council member representing District 3. He was first elected in 2022 and has served two terms. He previously ran for mayor of Fayetteville during the primary earlier this year but did not win.

Here's who is running for election in Cumberland County in 2026

Mario BE Benavente previously served as a City Council member representing District 3. He was first elected in 2022 and has served two terms from 2022 to 2026. He previously ran for mayor of Fayetteville during the primary earlier this year but did not win.

As of January 2, 2026, Mario BE Benavente’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Economy

Supports funding to staff every county school with nurses and social workers.

Supports funding to staff every county school with nurses and social workers that match "nationally recommended standards." 

Plans to prioritize funding to properly staff and compensate Department of Social Services (DSS) and Health and Human Services (HHS) employees to reduce delays in families receiving essential resources.

Plans to prioritize funding to properly staff and compensate Department of Social Services and Health and Human Services employees to reduce delays in families receiving essential resources.

Plans to work with municipal governments to provide clean drinking water and reliable wastewater management for county residents.

- Supports funding to staff every county school with nurses and social workers that match "nationally recommended standards." 
- Plans to prioritize funding to properly staff and compensate Department of Social Services and Health and Human Services employees to reduce delays in families receiving essential resources.
- Plans to work with municipal governments to provide clean drinking water and reliable wastewater management for county residents.

Public Services

Housing & Urban Development

Believes in addressing the root causes of crime through compassionate, public health-oriented approaches.

Plans to establish a joint 911 call center to ensure fast and effective emergency responses.

- Believes in addressing the root causes of crime through compassionate, public health-oriented approaches. 
- Plans to establish a joint 911 call center to ensure fast and effective emergency responses.

Public Safety

As a city council member, helped make public transportation a top 5 priority for the first time in city history.

As a city council member, worked to make public transportation a top priority.

- As a city council member, worked to make public transportation a top priority.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Energy & the Environment

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Mario BE Benavente

Mario has a dual bachelor's degree in peace, war, & defense and communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He also does local "equal justice" activism work. 

Mario is an associate attorney with a focus on family law and criminal defense. He previously served two terms as a Fayetteville City Council member.

Believes in addressing the root causes of gun violence.

As a city council member, prioritized public transportation.

- As a city council member, helped make public transportation a top 5 priority for the first time in city history.

- County Commissioners create and pass laws at the county-level. These laws show up in very tangible ways, such as determining how much you pay property and sales tax rates, public transportation, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners are responsible for preparing and passing the county budget. The budget determines how much funding goes to various public services, such as public transportation, law enforcement, repairing roads, and maintaining infrastructure.
- County Commissioners oversee the administrative duties of your county’s government to ensure the safety, comfort, and well-being of county residents.
- County Commissioners can create, change, or abolish offices, positions, departments that are not required by law. 
- County Commissioners are elected to 4-year terms, with no term limits. Typically, you only vote for the County Commissioner that represents your county commission district.