Bio, via Selective Service System:

Mr. Benton served one term in the Washington State House of Representatives and then served as a Senator in the Washington State Senate for 20 years from 1997 to 2017. He earlier served two terms as an elected college trustee on the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees. Mr. Benton started his first company when he was 17 years old, and has built and sold several successful companies since. Mr. Benton served as the Director of the Clark County Environmental Services Department from 2013 to 2016. During his tenure he reduced the cost of removing hazardous waste from the waste stream while doubling citizen participation and tripling the tonnage of hazardous waste removed. Mr. Benton was also responsible for Clark County certifying more Green Schools than any other county in Washington State. Mr. Benton also led a seamless transition of power for the new administration at the Environmental Protection Agency. He served as a senior White House advisor to President Trump. Mr. Benton was raised in a military family. His father is a retired Navy officer and both of his brothers also served in the military. One is a decorated Army veteran and the other served as a Navy pilot who flew 93 combat missions.