Mary Benton, Houston’s chief communications officer and a senior advisor to Mayor John Whitmire, is leaving the City of Houston for a new role with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO).
You want to know another Houston anchor who works for METRO? Former KHOU 11 and KPRC 2 anchor Jerome Gray is the Deputy Director of Communications. Heck, you have probably seen him in recent TV ads with Lisa Foronda.
No doubt Benton is leaving a job that deals with every Houston media property in some way.
Benton is a familiar name to longtime Houston television viewers, having spent nearly two decades as a reporter at KPRC 2.
Before moving into government communications, Benton built a long career in Houston television news. She joined KPRC 2 in October 1994 and remained with the NBC affiliate until July 2014.
During her nearly 20 years at KPRC, Benton covered a wide range of stories, including Houston City Hall, hurricanes, politics, and major breaking news.
Her television career began in Texas before arriving in Houston. Benton worked as a reporter and substitute anchor at KTBC 7 in Austin from 1992 to 1994. Before that, she worked at KCEN 6 in Waco-Temple-Killeen.
After leaving KPRC in 2014, Benton transitioned from reporting the news to working on the other side of the microphone in government communications.
She joined the Harris County Toll Road Authority as Manager of Media Relations and Public Affairs, serving as the agency’s primary spokesperson while handling media relations, community outreach, and public communications.
Benton later became Director of Communications and Division Director for Harris County. She also worked at Harris County Public Health, where she handled communications, marketing, media outreach, and stakeholder engagement.
In January 2018, Benton returned to Houston's political communications scene when she joined the Houston Mayor’s Office as Press Secretary. She was later promoted to Director of Communications in 2020.
Benton eventually became Chief Communications Officer and Senior Advisor to the Mayor of Houston. In that position, she served as the mayor’s chief spokesperson and senior communications advisor while helping oversee communications strategy for the mayor and city government.
In June 2026, Benton received the Legacy Award from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Houston Chapter during the 41st Annual Excalibur Awards at the Houston Botanic Garden. The event, themed “Night of Bold Voices,” recognized communications professionals throughout the Houston area. The Legacy Award honored Benton’s lengthy career in Houston media and communications.
AAF-Houston also honored Benton in 2019 for her leadership in promoting diversity and inclusion. She has additionally been recognized as an influential woman and role model in the Houston community.
A native of Harlingen, Texas, Benton graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Journalism degree.
