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

Facebook

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.

Buket Urgen

Charles Evans is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He earned a degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College, and later completed a bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies, non-profit/public/organizational management at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Charles lives in Fayetteville and is involved in community service through the Life Is Worth Living Project Fresh Start.

Charles is the executive director of Life is Worth Living Project Fresh Start. He is a disabled veteran. He previously served as an at-large representative on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners from 2010 to 2022. He also served two terms on the Fayetteville City Council from 2005 to 2009. 

Charles currently works as an executive director of Life is Worth Living Project Fresh Start, a community-focused organization. He also works as a clerk with the USPS. 

Charles is currently an at-large member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. He was first elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018. He previously served two terms on the Fayetteville City Council from 2005 to 2009. Charles ran for the Democratic nomination for the 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2022 but did not win.

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Supports efforts that help residents find jobs and regain financial stability, especially those facing barriers to employment.

- Supports efforts that help residents find jobs and regain financial stability, especially those facing barriers to employment.

As a county commissioner, worked to enhance the Crown Auditorium.

Supports investing in community facilities and essential services to improve quality of life and address local needs.

- Supports investing in community facilities and essential services to improve quality of life and address local needs.

Advocated for building a homeless shelter in Cumberland County.

- Advocated for building a homeless shelter in Cumberland County.

Supports community policing initiatives that foster relationships between officers and residents.

As a clerk of court, worked to have Expungement Clinics, with District Attorney Billy West to clear over 1,000 residents to have their records cleared of nonviolent crimes.

Worked to have expungement clinics help over 1,000 residents to have their records cleared of nonviolent crimes.

- Supports community policing initiatives that foster relationships between officers and residents.
- Worked to have expungement clinics help over 1,000 residents to have their records cleared of nonviolent crimes.

As of January 2, 2026, Charles Evans’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports actions to protect environmental health and public water resources.

- Supports actions to protect environmental health and public water resources.

LinkedIn

Charles Evans

Charles Evans is originally from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He earned a degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College, and later completed a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Evans lives in Fayetteville and is involved in community service through the Life Is Worth Living Project Fresh Start.

Charles currently works as an executive director of Life is Worth Living Project Fresh Start, a community-focused organization. He also works s a member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, a member of the Fayetteville City Council, and he also currently works as a PSE Clerk with the USPS. 

- Supports community policing initiatives that foster relationships between officers and residents.
- As a clerk of court, worked to have Expungement Clinics, with District Attorney Billy West to clear over 1,000 residents to have their records cleared of nonviolent crimes.

Commissioners

Marshall Faircloth has a bachelor's in business administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and has wife, Carol, have four children and four grandchildren.

Marshall is a certified public accountant (CPA) with over 20 years of experience in local government accounting and auditing. He has also served as a Cumberland County commissioner for 16 years.

DeViere voted chair of county commissioners over Faircloth

Marshall previously worked as a certified public accountant and financial consultant.

Marshall is currently a member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. He has served on the board for 16 years.

Marshall currently serves as a Cumberland County Board of Commissioners member. He was first elected in 1992 and is serving his 4th term. 

As of January 2, 2026, Marshall Faircloth did not have a website or any information online.

Marshall Faircloth

Marshall current works as a county commissioner. He previously worked as a certified public accountant. 

Marshall Faircloth currently serves as a Cumberland County Board of Commissioners member. He was first elected in 19992 and is serving his 4th term. 

As of January 2, 2026, Marshall Faircloth’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Toni Stewart has lived in her neighborhood since the 1970s.

Toni Stewart is originally from Ohio and now lives in Cumberland County. She has a doctorate in biblical counseling Toni is a mother.

Toni is a public health professional. She has also served as the chairwoman of the Homeless Support Center Committee.

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Toni currently works as a special project manager at True Vine Ministries. She previously served as executive director of TVM Hope Center and founded Ever Increasing Ministries.

Toni previously served as a member of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners.

Toni Stewart previously served as a County Commissioner for District 2 in Cumberland County, serving one term from 2020 to 2024.

Supports job creation and workforce opportunities that help families become financially stable and support people entering the job market.

- Supports job creation and workforce opportunities that help families become financially stable and support people entering the job market.

As of January 2, 2026, Toni Stewart’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Proposed the creation of transitional homes or tiny homes in conjunction with the Homeless Support Center.

- Proposed the creation of transitional homes or tiny homes in conjunction with the Homeless Support Center.

Supports strengthening community-based services to protect vulnerable populations and improve overall safety.

- Supports strengthening community-based services to protect vulnerable populations and improve overall safety.

Supports providing assistance to those harmed by Chemours' water contamination.

- Supports providing assistance to those harmed by Chemours' water contamination.

Toni Stewart

Toni Stewart is originally from Ohio and now lives in Cumberland County. She has a doctorate in biblical counseling and works as a counselor and mentor in the community. Toni is a mother and is involved in local nonprofit organizations focused on community service.

Toni currently works as a Special Project Manager at True Vine Ministries, where she supports community engagement, events, and leadership development. She previously served as Executive Director of TVM Hope Center and founded Ever Increasing Ministries, both focused on community support and outreach.

Toni Stewart is from Ohio. She has a doctorate in biblical counseling. She is an ordained elder at True Vine Ministries.

Dr. Stewart is a public health professional.

Toni previously served as a Cumberland County commissioner. She ran for re-election in 2024 but did not win.

Veronica Jones was born at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and lives in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She attended and graduated from Hardbarger Christian College, Liberty University, and Indiana Wesleyan Christian University. Jones lives in Fayetteville and attends Beauty Spot Missionary Baptist Church.

Veronica has previously worked in mental health and family services.

Veronica previously worked as a full-time entrepreneur and corporate executive, holding roles in branding and strategy, program development, mental health education, family services, communications, and nonprofit leadership, and is the CEO/President of Jones Global Foundation, which operates nonprofit and consulting organizations.

Veronica previously ran for an at-large seat on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners in 2022 but did not win.

Cumberland County Commissioners 2022 primary race results

Veronica B. Jones (Cumberland County Board of Commissioners At ...

Veronica currently serves as vice chairwoman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, representing the county at-large. She was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2022 and is serving her first term.

As of January 2, 2026, Veronica B. Jones did not have a website or any information online.

Said, "The county and city need to work together regarding the new Performing Art Center. They need to have a professional study done to see if it's feasible and make sure to pick the right type, size and location, and ensure the building is handicap accessible."

Supports coordination between the county and city to study the feasibility of a new performing arts center, including its size, location, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

Supports allocating funds for county hospitals, mental health services, and health partners providing health care services.

- Supports coordination between the county and city to study the feasibility of a new performing arts center, including its size, location, and accessibility for people with disabilities.
- Supports allocating funds for county hospitals, mental health services, and health partners providing health care services.

Wants to help create affordable housing by investing a reasonable amount of the yearly budget in this area.

- Wants to help create affordable housing by investing a reasonable amount of the yearly budget in this area.

Wants to decrease gun violence through community programs and establishing a board with residents to address issues like rapes and home invasions.

Supports decreasing gun violence through community programs and establishing a board with residents to address issues like rapes and home invasions.

Supports training sheriff's deputies on how to interact with and de-escalate conflicts with homeless people.

- Supports decreasing gun violence through community programs and establishing a board with residents to address issues like rapes and home invasions.
- Supports training sheriff's deputies on how to interact with and de-escalate conflicts with homeless people.

Believes the county and city should collaborate on the new Performing Art Center, ensuring a professional feasibility study is done and the building is handicap accessible.

Veronica B. Jones

Veronica currently serves as Vice Chairwoman of the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners, representing the county at-large. She was first elected to the Board of Commissioners in 2022 and is serving her first term.

- Supports coordination between the county and city to study the feasibility of a new performing arts center, including its size, location, and accessibility for people with disabilities.

As of January 2, 2026, Veronica B. Jones’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Said, "The county can establish a grant to be awarded to nonprofits that provide services such as building career pathways for the homeless population... One of the most effective ways to support individuals as they move out of homelessness and into permanent housing is increasing access to meaningful and sustainable job training and employment."

William is a public school educator. He works in public schools, where he has taught for 25 years. He previously worked as a Restorative Justice Center facilitator and as a campaign strategist.

William "Toonk" Wesley — Donate via ActBlue

William (Toonk) Wesley is a public school educator. He previously worked as a restorative justice facilitator and as a campaign strategist. 

William (Toonk) Wesley's campaign for Cumberland County Commissioner At-Large.

William's campaign for Cumberland County Commissioner At-Large is his first run for office.

As of January 2, 2026, William (Toonk) Wesley did not have a website.

William (Toonk) Wesley

William is a public school educator. He previously worked as a restorative justice c Yeah enter facilitator and as a campaign strategist. 

William (Toonk) Wesley's campaign for Cumberland County Commissioner At-Large is his first run for office.

As of January 2, 2026, William (Toonk) Wesley’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- 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.