Benson Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager Resign Amid Turmoil

BENSON, N.C. — Benson Town Manager Dane Rideout and Assistant Town Manager Calla Godwin have both resigned from their positions following days of controversy surrounding town leadership and ongoing tensions tied to Benson’s financial crisis.

The resignations were announced publicly during Thursday night’s Benson Board of Commissioners meeting.

Mayor Dr. Max Raynor read both resignation letters.

Rideout resigned Wednesday after recordings allegedly capturing him cursing and referring to commissioners as “son-of-a-(expletives deleted)” surfaced on social media.

Godwin submitted her resignation Thursday, citing what she described as a “hostile work environment” that made it impossible for her to continue to work for the Town of Benson.

The departures add to ongoing instability in Benson’s town leadership. Benson has now had eight town managers within the past five years.

Rideout had only recently been hired as Benson’s town manager following a nationwide recruitment process conducted with the assistance of an independent government recruiting firm and the Central Pines Regional Council.

Town leaders announced his hiring earlier this year, citing his military background and municipal leadership experience as major factors in their decision.

“We felt that Mr. Rideout was a great fit for Benson not only because of his military background, but for his extensive experience in dealing with people, local businesses, and corporations,” Mayor Raynor said at the time of Rideout’s hiring. “We’re confident he will manage Benson’s growth with the utmost professionalism.”

Rideout had publicly acknowledged the challenges facing Benson during a May 13 board meeting, where he described the town’s finances as a “crisis across all departments.”

During that meeting, Rideout told commissioners Benson was attempting to recover from years of overspending, depleted reserves and structural budget problems that left the town with an estimated negative fund balance of approximately $2.75 million.

“There are no funds in the rainy day funds across the Town of Benson,” Rideout said during the May 13 meeting. “All those funds had been expended when I started.”

His proposed budget included cost-cutting measures, personnel reductions through vacant positions and departmental restructuring aimed at saving approximately $1 million.

The proposals drew criticism from some residents and town employees, particularly after discussions involving fire department staffing and other reductions.

During the May 13 meeting, several residents sharply criticized both current and former town leadership over the town’s financial condition while others questioned administrative spending and hiring practices.

Rideout succeeded interim town manager Steve Harrell, who served after former Town Manager Kim Pickett left Benson in 2025 to accept a position with the Town of Smithfield.

At Thursday night’s meeting, town officials did not announce a timeline for filling either vacant administrative position.