By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
The 2025 Fayetteville mayoral race has taken an unexpected turn with Mayor Mitch Colvin reversing his decision to step away from public office and officially entering the race for a fifth term just hours before the filing deadline on July 18.
Colvin, Fayetteville’s longest-serving Black mayor, first took office in 2017 and had announced in June that he would not seek reelection. But citing growing concerns over the city’s leadership transition, Colvin filed to run just before the deadline, stating his decision stemmed from a desire to ensure continuity and stability amid widespread changes across city and county institutions.
“I had all intentions to not file for reelection,” Colvin said. “But at the end of the filing period, with three open council seats and major changes in leadership across our institutions, I felt compelled to continue serving.”
Recent leadership transitions, including the swearing-in of a new police chief, the appointment of a new superintendent for Cumberland County Schools, and the retirement of longtime Sheriff Ennis Wright, have sparked concerns about the city’s direction.
Colvin emphasized that his decision wasn’t self-serving.
“There’s infrastructure work, utility coordination, collaborations with the county on emergency communications, and education initiatives. This is about finishing the work we’ve started,” he said.
A third-term council member first elected in 2019, Councilwoman Courtney Banks-McLaughlin, also made a last-minute pivot from seeking reelection in her District 8 seat to entering the mayoral race.
“I’ve done so much to improve our community,” she said. “And I would love for your support to be the next Fayetteville mayor. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be out in the community to hear your concerns and visions for growth.”
Other prominent candidates include:
Mario “Be” Benavente, a second-term council member from District 3; Kathy Keefe Jensen, a five-term council member and current mayor pro tem from District 1; Freddie de la Cruz, a perennial candidate who has previously run for both mayor and state office.
Additional candidates: Josh Ashford, Clifton Johnson, Nahlee Iris Smith, Tisha S. Waddell, and Paul A. Williams.
With ten candidates competing and a primary set for October 7, Fayetteville's mayoral race is expected to focus on several pressing issues that will shape the city’s future.
Public safety and crime prevention are at the forefront, particularly as the city welcomes a new police chief and seeks to strengthen community-police relations. Candidates are expected to present plans for improving neighborhood safety and supporting law enforcement leadership.
Affordable housing is another key concern, with rising costs and homelessness affecting residents across the city. Economic opportunity also features prominently in the race, as candidates call for more job creation, support for small businesses, and access to high-wage employment—issues highlighted by Mario Benavente’s call to build “a city for all of us.”
Infrastructure and public services are also central, with ongoing projects such as the Mable C. Smith Community Center and a new fire station, as well as negotiations with Cumberland County over 911 communications, reflecting broader goals for regional cooperation and sustainable growth.
Fayetteville’s mayoral contest is officially nonpartisan, but the diversity of candidates—from seasoned council veterans to political newcomers—means voters will be weighing a wide range of leadership styles and visions for the future.
