Benson seeks District 3 council seat

First-time candidate Chris Benson says residents deserve clearer answers before votes are taken, not after

8:00 a.m. June 21, 2026

With the 2026 Moore County elections approaching later this year, the Observer is conducting one-on-one interviews with candidates who have officially qualified for office. Candidates are not given questions in advance and have no input on the final written coverage. As part of the Observer’s commitment to independent, fact-based reporting, campaign letters or promotional submissions from candidates are not accepted.

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DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

Chris Benson grew up with one foot in Bakertown and the other on the Lynchburg Square.

Now, the first-time candidate and owner of Bakertown Silk Flowers & Stuff wants a seat on the Metro Council, saying residents should get clearer answers before votes are taken – not after.

Benson is running for a District 3 seat in August. He does not pitch himself as a politician. He pitches himself as a working person who has had to watch costs, keep records, and answer for his own decisions.

“I’m not a career politician,” Benson said. “I’m a working person who understands that every dollar matters and that people deserve clear answers from the folks making decisions on their behalf.”

From Bakertown to the ballot

Benson’s family moved to Moore County in 1987, and his mother grew up in Bakertown. That connection, he said, made Moore County feel like home long before he ever thought about putting his name on a ballot.

“This is where I grew up, where I’ve worked, and where I’ve tried to be involved when I saw a need,” Benson said.

Many voters may know him from his floral business, which he first operated from home before moving it to the Lynchburg Square from 2017 to 2019. During those years, Benson worked with the Chamber of Commerce and other local business owners on events aimed at bringing people downtown and supporting the Square.

One of those efforts stuck.

In 2017, Benson helped launch Lynchburg’s first community Halloween event, working with other Square businesses to host a scavenger hunt, a costume contest, local donations, and a family-focused night. The Chamber later took over the event, and it has grown into a tradition that many local families now expect on the calendar.

Benson said voters may know him from those square years, from local events, or simply as someone who has lived here most of his life and cares about what Moore County is becoming.

A small-business view of county government

Benson attended Tennessee College of Applied Technology, where he studied administrative assistance with an emphasis in accounting. He said that gave him a foundation in organization, recordkeeping, and understanding where money goes.

As a small-business owner, Benson said, he learned quickly that costs matter. So do records, communication, and taking responsibility when a decision falls on your desk.

Those habits, he said, belong in local government.

Benson also operates a small trucking company, where he manages safety requirements, paperwork, and daily business responsibilities. He said that work has reinforced the importance of following rules, staying organized, and being accountable.

It is not a political résumé, Benson said. It is a working one.

A first-time candidate asking basic questions

Asked about the most important issue facing Moore County, Benson did not start with one department, one project, or one line in the budget.

He started with access.

Benson said county government should be easier for citizens to follow. With 15 members on the Metro Council, he said, major decisions should include real discussion before votes are taken. Questions should be asked in public, answers should be clear, and residents should not have to hear about a decision only after it is done.

In his first year, Benson said he would focus on being prepared, available, and willing to ask questions. He said he would do his homework before meetings, listen to residents, and make sure he understands the issue before casting a vote.

He also supports clearer meeting information, agendas, and minutes that are easy for citizens to find.

“People should not have to dig to know what their local government is doing,” Benson said. “To me, that is not a party issue. It is simply good government.”

Taxes, visitors, and the county’s next dollar

Benson said county budgets come with hard choices. No one wants to cut essential services, he said, and no one wants to raise property taxes. Before doing either, he believes the county should take a hard look at spending, priorities, and other possible revenue options.

One idea he would support discussing again is a small local sales tax increase to 9.75%.

Benson said any tax increase matters, but a quarter-point increase in the local sales tax would spread the burden more broadly. It would also allow Moore County to collect more revenue from visitors rather than relying so heavily on property owners.

He said the idea may have had more support in the past if the public had received clearer information about what it would do and how the money would benefit the county.

“Communication matters,” Benson said. “Citizens need clear information before they can make informed decisions.”

At the same time, Benson said the county should be willing to review services, spending, and the budget's structure each year. That does not mean cutting blindly, he said. It means asking hard questions, identifying waste, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used carefully.

Growth, but not at any cost

Benson said Lynchburg today is not the Lynchburg he grew up in.

He does not argue that the county can stand still. But he said growth should not come so fast, or so carelessly, that Moore County wakes up one day and feels like somewhere else.

“I believe in preserving the small, quiet character of our community, but we also have to support local businesses and other opportunities that benefit residents,” Benson said.

Benson said Moore County needs growth that keeps more dollars here and strengthens the county without stripping away what makes Lynchburg feel like Lynchburg.

That includes better communication, he said. Committee meetings happen throughout the month, but many residents do not know when or where they take place. Notices posted at the courthouse or county buildings are no longer enough.

In a county where people work long days, raise children, run farms, drive trucks, keep small businesses open, and still try to make it to ballgames and church suppers, a notice on a courthouse wall will miss a lot of people.

Benson said the county needs to meet residents where they already are – online, on social media, and through information that is easy to find before decisions are made.

Staying reachable after Election Day

If elected, Benson said he would represent everyone in District 3, including those who do not vote for him.

He said he plans to stay available by phone, text, in person, and through his campaign Facebook page. Not everyone wants to speak at a public meeting, he said, but they still deserve a way to be heard.

“I won't disappear after Election Day,” Benson said.

He said residents may not always agree with him, and he may not always agree with them. But he said accountability starts with listening, especially when the conversation is difficult.