Mother. Servant. Leader.
Commissioner Benavides was born Sofia Estela Cornejo to Juan E. Cornejo and Esther Cavazos on December 28, 1950, in Brownsville, TX. She attended Incarnate Word Academy until the 5th grade and finished her education in the Brownsville public school system. She graduated May 1969 and started to work for the late County Judge Oscar C. Dancy in August of 1969. She continued being employed by Cameron County until 1981, thereafter, she was employed by Texas Southmost College and Texas Department of Human Services-Food Stamp Division until September of 1990.
On September 24, 1990, she began her career with the U. S. Courts/Federal Probation Office as a Federal Probation Clerk. She remained in that position until she was appointed to serve the unexpired term of her late husband, Pedro "Pete" Benavides as Cameron County Commissioner Precinct I. She was sworn into office on November 20, 2006 and continues to serve as County Commissioner Precinct I.
Commissioner Benavides owned and operated the first commercial driving school in Brownsville and raised 5 children; Pedro Jr., Mary Esther, Jesus, Veronica and Gloria. She comes from a family of public servants, her late husband, her mother, and her sisters have dedicated a total of 76 years of public service while employed with Cameron County. In March 2008, Commissioner Benavides was elected to serve a new term which began in January 1, 2009.
