Mary Benton is Director of Communications and Special Projects for the Office of Precinct One Harris County Commissioner Gene Locke. She is responsible for internal and external communications, managing a team of community aides for constituent outreach, and she works on special projects. Benton also serves as the Commissioner’s liaison to multiple departments within Harris County. In addition, she represents Precinct One at community events and governmental agency meetings. Prior to joining Precinct One, she was the Manager of Media Relations and Public Affairs for the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA).
Benton began her professional career in journalism, working as a television news reporter for more than two decades, beginning with stations in Killeen, Texas, where she covered the local community and military affairs at the nearby Fort Hood Army Base and at KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas, where she was a news reporter and weekend anchor. In Austin, Benton specialized in general assignments, education reporting and coverage of the Texas Legislature. In 1994, Benton joined the staff of KPRC– TV in Houston, Texas. Over a stellar twenty-year tenure, she was a trusted and familiar face who brought viewers breaking news, updates on hurricanes, local politics, and sports coverage. She was an integral part of the news team that was awarded the 2014 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for breaking news coverage.
Benton is immediate past president of the Houston Association of Black Journalists and served on the board of the National Association of Black Journalists as the Region V Director. She is a member of the Houston Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and a member of the Texas Municipal League Public Information Officers.
Her accolades include being named a 2015 Real Role Model by the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity and the Houston Association of Black Journalists. She was named a Rising Star by the League of Women Voters (Houston Area). She was also honored as Best Local Television Reporter by the Houston Press.
Benton is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, where she served as a member of the Communications Council and was active in other student organizations. Benton is a life member of the University of Texas Alumni Association (Texas Exes) and a member of the UT Austin Black Alumni Network.
Benton enjoys volunteering in the Houston community, where she is frequently called on to emcee and host events. She is a member of the Houston Super Bowl LI (2017) Host Committee (Marketing Committee), and she has served on the NCAA Volunteer Committee. She enjoys movies, spending time with her family, traveling, and she looks forward to attending graduate school one day to obtain a Master’s degree.
Mary Benton
Director of Communications and Special Projects
Office of Precinct One
Harris County Commissioner Gene Locke
7901 El Rio Street
Houston, TX 77054
713-991-6881
713-497-7998
Mary.Benton@cp1.hctx.next
