Mario Benavente holds lead in Fayetteville City Council race in official results
Myron B. Pitts
Mario Benavente maintained a slim six-vote lead over Antonio Jones in the District 3 Fayetteville City Council race after an official canvass, held on Friday at the Cumberland County Board of Elections.
Jones, the incumbent, and Benavente, the challenger, each gained four votes after absentee ballots that came in after the election were added to the total. The ballots were postmarked by election day, which was July 26.
Benavente won 1,016 votes to Jones’ 1,010 votes in official numbers. The results are close enough to where Jones was eligible to request a recount under state law; on Friday afternoon, he made the request, according to Elections Board Member Irene Grimes.
After interim Elections Director Angie Amaro announced the District 3 results on Friday, Benavente, who was in attendance along with supporters, laughed heartily.
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Board Chairwoman Helen L. Nelson reminded him that the meeting was still in session.
“We put in the hard work from day one, and it’s finally paid off,” Benavente said after the meeting. “Can’t wait to put that same level of effort for my hometown of Fayetteville.”
In District 7, another close race, challenger Brenda McNair became the official winner over incumbent Larry Wright, with a final vote tally of 681 to 661.
The City of Fayetteville has scheduled a swearing-in ceremony for the new and returning council members on Thursday.
Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.