North Beach Mayor Mike Benton announced he will not seek re-election when his current term ends, saying he wants to spend more time with his family after more than a decade in town government.
Benton served eight years on the North Beach Town Council before being elected mayor in 2018. As mayor, he led the town through a period the town describes as marked by sound financial management, infrastructure improvements, economic growth, enhanced public safety initiatives, and continued investment in North Beach’s waterfront, parks, and community amenities — improvements the town credits with helping make its residential real estate the most valuable in Calvert County on a per-square-foot basis.
One of the defining stretches of his tenure was leading North Beach through the COVID-19 pandemic, working with the Town Council, staff, public health officials, and community partners to maintain municipal services and support residents and businesses through the emergency. His administration also maintained clean annual audits, advanced numerous capital improvement projects, and focused on modernizing municipal operations and supporting local businesses through investment in tourism and special events.
“Serving as mayor of North Beach has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Benton said. “I am incredibly grateful for the trust the residents have placed in me over the years and for the support and partnership of the Town Council. I also want to recognize our amazing Town staff, whose hard work, professionalism and dedication to this community have been instrumental in everything we have accomplished.”
Benton reflected on the pandemic response and the town’s financial footing in his statement. “Together, we navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthened our financial foundation, invested in our community and positioned North Beach for a bright future,” he said. “After much thought and discussion with my family, I have decided not to seek another term so I can spend more time with the people who have supported me throughout this journey. I am proud of what we have accomplished together. I know the town’s future is bright, and I look forward to watching North Beach continue to thrive.”
The town thanked Benton for his years of leadership on both the Town Council and as mayor, saying his service has left a lasting impact and established a strong foundation for North Beach’s continued success.
Benton’s own path to the mayor’s office followed a similar one: he succeeded longtime Mayor Mark Frazer, who led North Beach for two decades beginning in 1998, guiding much of the town’s earlier revitalization and later serving as Maryland Municipal League president. Frazer received the League’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and has since passed away; the town has publicly honored his legacy alongside Benton’s own tenure.
The Town of North Beach’s municipal election, which will fill both the mayor’s seat and Town Council positions, will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. More information about the town is available at northbeachmd.gov, and updates can be found on the town’s Facebook page.
