Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1472485
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM JULY 6 - 12, 2022 UCW 9 council and is the second-generation owner of a real estate firm. Others vying for office include incumbent Katherine Jensen and Jose Alex Rodriguez in District 1. Jensen, a small business owner, said people should shop locally and not travel to Raleigh or elsewhere to shop. Jensen listed her strengths as someone who collaborates with others to achieve results. Rodriguez said Fayetteville needs to provide incentives to recruit big busi- ness to keep exiting military and col- lege graduates to stay and seek careers here. In District 2, incumbent Shakeyla Ingram hopes to ward off Tyrone Wil- liams in an effort to keep her seat on the council. Williams is a former city council member. He resigned in May 2018 over ethical concerns. Ingram is looking to serve a second term and is an advocate of affordable housing, police accountability and the inclusion of the community in fighting crime. "You can't arrest your way out of everything," she said. Williams, an investor and developer who served on an economic develop- ment board in Norfolk, Va., said his family left their Raeford farm years ago to seek a better life in Fayetteville. "It hasn't turned out that way," he said. He said development and the use of $40 million in American Rescue Plan money could encourage development in Fayetteville. Mario "Be" Benavente and Antonio Jones are vying for the District 3 seat. Jones was appointed to the council in December 2021 to replace Council- woman Tisha Waddell who resigned from the District 3 seat in November, alleging unethical behavior by several members of City Council. Mario Benavente recently earned his law degree from North Carolina Central University and is a graduate of the Fayetteville Police Department's Citizen Police Academy. Benavente claimed racial profiling by police at traffic stops has increased during the past 10 years. He said a citizen en- dorsed Civilian Review Board has yet to be established. Jones is a certified military relocation realtor and refused to debate Benaven- te's claim that he accepted dollars from an out-of-town super PAC. "I'm not getting into mud," he re- sponded. Jones also said Fayetteville needs in- dustry to keep young people interested in staying, but they also need better entertainment venues. District 6 pits two newcomers to poli- tics: Peter Pappas and Derrick omp- son. District 6 was left vacant after Councilman Chris Davis opted to run for state office. Pappas owns and oper- ates the family's Baldino Sub Shops. ompson is a 20-year Army veteran and former U.S. postal carrier. District 7 incumbent Larry Wright faces Brenda McNair who trailed Wright by only four votes in the prima- ry. McNair is running on a platform of reconciliation. ird term Wright says his primary concern is reducing crime. Finally, Fayetteville native Deno Hondros seeks to replace incumbent Yvonne Kinston. Hondros is a commer- cial realtor. He did not attend the forum because of a previous out-of-state com- mitment. Kinston is a telecommunica- tions customer service representative and an officer in the Communications Workers of America Union. For more detailed information about each candidate's position, see Up & Coming Weekly's 2022 Election Guide at www.upandcomingweekly.com. NEWS District 8 candidate Michael Pinkston responds to a question, while incumbent Courtney Banks- McLaughlin waits to respond at the General Election Forum , June 30. (Photo by Jason Brady) JASON BRADY, Staff Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910-484-6200. Make your voice heard! Mayoral/City- Council Election July 26 th General election Nov 8 th VOTE Photos by Jimmy Jones • paid for by Citizens for a "better" Fayetteville • upandcomingweekly.com