Ben McDonald was first elected to serve on the Knightdale Town Council in 2019 and was elected by his fellow councilors to serve as Mayor Pro Tempore in 2023. As a long time resident of Knightdale, Ben has seen the town grow from a sleepy suburb to a thriving, active community with its own distinct flair for living. 

While serving on Knightdale’s governing board Ben has prioritized creating a vibrant and sustainable community that is welcoming to all. Over the past four years of service, Ben and the Town Council have accomplished much to ensure the future viability and success of the community. 

• Investments in Public Safety​​​

  • Merger of the Knightdale Fire Department and East Wake Fire and Rescue

  • Construction of two new fire stations, Station 4 on Hodge Rd and Station 1 on Old Knight Rd (both now under construction)

  • Renovation of current public safety building to serve as police headquarters (funded, ongoing).

  • Investing in numerous fire trucks, police vehicles, and equipment. 

  • Historic salary investments making Knightdale FD and PD one of the best paid in the State of North Carolina.

• Investments in Sustainability

  • Formation of Sustainability Committee to guide Council. 

  • Authorized grants leading to installation of EV Charging Stations at Town Hall and Knightdale Station Park. 

  • Renovations at Harper Park including Knightdale’s first mural and inclusive playground.

  • Renovations at the Knightdale Environmental Park including restoration of the pond and picnic shelters, and the installation of a stormwater friendly, permeable surface walking trail. 

  • Energy Efficient renovations at Town Hall. 

  • Completion of the towns first Comprehensive Transportation Plan that prioritizes walkability, mass transit, and safety.

• Investments in Staff

  • Expansion of workplace protections to create and support additional protected groups of employees. 

  • Historic salary investments to ensure Knightdale is a competitive employer in a challenging labor market. 

  • Ensured that all full time town employees are payed at or above the living wage for Wake County. 

  • Proactive approach to the COVID-19 pandemic that ensured the safety of staff and viability of town services throughout the entire crisis. 

• Investments in the Community

  • Knightdale partnered with Wake County and Campbell University Law School to enact a local Anti-Discrimination Ordinance that expands protected group status to additional people in the community and created the opportunity to arbitrate discrimination cases locally. 

  • Creation of new community events to celebrate the diverse population of Knightdale. 

  • Extension of the Mingo Creek Greenway all the way to Knightdale Station Park (funded, construction starts 2023).

  • Creation of a Parks and Rec Master Plan. 

  • Funded the design of a community center to be constructed in 2028. 

  • Partnered with Wake Stone Corporation to build an inclusive playground at Harper Park.

  • Authorized the first food truck program that allows businesses to host food trucks, and created food truck friendly zones (previously food trucks were only allowed at town events and breweries).  

  • Completion of the Wake Stone Soccer Park

  • Knightdale’s first citizen satisfaction survey

  • Creation of the Community Relations Department

  • Authorization of an Inclusive Growth and Affordable Housing Study

  • Creation of “The River District Small Area Plan”

  • Maintaining a fair tax rate (5th lowest in Wake County) to ensure Knightdale remains affordable for our residents. 

• Future Priorities

  • The Basics:

    • The priorities of any good municipal elected official should be the same - high quality town services; great parks, programs, and events; great quality of life; and a fiscally responsible town government. 

  • Beyond the basics:

    • I envision Knightdale's future to be one where people can truly live-work-and play without ever leaving. As we "grow" forward I envision a Knightdale where one can choose to live without a car, and where one can age in place. 

    • Prioritizing our regional partnerships: As we plan the future working with WCPSS, Wake County, GoRaleigh, Wake Tech, NCDOT, and our surrounding municipalities as we plan for the future helps to ensure that Knightdale's citizens have access to the services they need! 

    • Addressing the Climate Crisis: Our town is not immune to climate change and we must plan accordingly. Our response to the climate crisis must be built in to everything we do - it must become part of our culture. Expanding walkability, planning for public transit, developing walkable neighborhoods, requiring future ready stormwater controls, encouraging sustainable building patterns, and limiting barriers to electrification and green energy are all steps we are taking to make sure Knightdale does its part to fight and respond to climate change. Our Climate Plan IS our housing plan, IS our transportation plan, IS our development plan. It is the accumulation of our collective choices. 

    • ​Embracing our Diversity: Knightdale is among the youngest and most diverse communities in Wake County! We must work to ensure that people who choose to live here can stay here through their lives, that they see themselves represented in our town government and town events, and that people from ALL walks of life feel safe and accepted in our community. 

  • After participating in multiple rounds of Strategic Planning, Budget Seasons, and Planning Retreats, my plans and goals for the future of Knightdale are integrated within the following public documents.​

    • Knightdale Strategic Plan (updated annually)​

    • Knightdale Strategic Retreat Report

    • Knightdale Comprehensive Plan (to be updated Summer 2023)