The Fayetteville City Council will welcome three new members in December, each stepping into seats vacated by those who launched unsuccessful bids for mayor.
With the departures of Kathy Jensen (District 1), Mario Benavente (District 3), and Courtney Banks-McLaughlin (District 8), voters ushered in a new generation of leadership—one that blends military discipline and grassroots organizing.
The 10-member council, including the mayor, now features Stephon Ferguson (District 1), Antonio Jones (District 3), and Shaun McMillan (District 8). They have distinct backgrounds but echo similar calls for transparency and public trust, economic opportunity, and responsive governance.
They will be sworn into their new roles at 6 p.m. Monday, December 1 at the Seabrook Auditorium on Fayetteville State University’s campus.
Ferguson, Jones, and McMillan spoke with CityView following their victories, offering insight into their backgrounds, campaign strategies, and priorities for Fayetteville.
Shared Goals, Local Strategies
Each emphasized transparency not just as a principle, but as a practice. Ferguson invited constituents to “call me out” if he fails to deliver on promises. Jones centered his campaign on “restoring faith.” McMillan, who called out what he described as a culture within the city government resistant to oversight, has said he plans to advocate for accountability within local institutions.
“Accountable leadership looks like doing the thing that you promised to do,” Ferguson said.
“There is a culture that pushes against accountability, that pushes against transparency,” McMillan said. “They have trouble moving forward even the most basic policies.”
Economic development also emerged as a shared priority, but with distinct local angles. Ferguson said he wants to focus on workforce training and infrastructure as the backbone of growth, aiming to equip residents with the skills needed for future jobs.
“As far as infrastructure is concerned, that’s a big piece, because that enhances economic development,” Ferguson said, noting upcoming developments in his District 1. “So we’re going to definitely be working on that.”
Jones also spoke of cultivating a local talent pool in tech and trades to attract businesses and raise wages.
McMillan linked economic stability to housing affordability and access to critical benefits. He said he was concerned with cuts to programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly called SNAP or food stamps.
“The city has a responsibility to address those cuts,” McMillan told CityView.
Campaigns Built on Connection
All three said their campaigns focused on a hands-on approach to community engagement. Ferguson credited his success to voter education and consistent outreach through meetings and phone calls. Jones pointed to years of grassroots involvement and a desire to serve his community. McMillan said he knocked on more than 2,300 doors in District 8, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and listening closely to residents’ concerns.
Where they differ is how their life experiences shape their approach to governance.
Ferguson brings military service, media savvy, and spiritual performance. A former Army medic and radio host, he now reenacts Martin Luther King Jr. speeches professionally. His focus is pragmatic: infrastructure, workforce training, and economic growth. “I want to do less talking and more listening,” he said, promising a town hall within his first 90 days.
Jones, an Air Force veteran, realtor, and former appointee to the council, leans into his identity as a lifelong Fayetteville resident and father. His faith-driven campaign emphasized service over ambition. “God gave me a very strategic plan,” he said. His priorities include public safety, homelessness, and incentivizing businesses to hire locally.
McMillan is a retired Army officer and longtime community organizer and activist. His path to public office began with grassroots efforts to hold law enforcement accountable and demand transparency from city leaders—work that has shaped his approach to governance.
McMillan said he sees his election as a mandate to push for long-delayed reforms, including independent police oversight and affordable housing. “The city has a responsibility,” he said, “to respond to the needs of its people.”
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com.
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