Getting to Know your neighbor: Lina Benavidez: County director, proud grandmother & dancer

Lina Benavidez is the public works director for Valencia County, a position she’s held since 2014.

She has worked for the county since Feb. 3, 2003, when she started with the code enforcement/planning and zoning department. She was also part of rural addressing and the administrative assistant for the Valencia County Fire Department until 2008.

That year, she was moved to public works, where she worked as an engineer aide, overseeing road projects and serving as the administrative assistant to the then public works director. After several years working for different directors and learning all the departments within public works, she applied for the director position in 2014.

Benavidez has two children — Deelyla and Raymond Benavidez — and two grandchildren — John Paul (JP) and newly born Eliajah Leo. She grew up in Belen in Los Trujillo, and graduated from Belen High School in 1996.

Q If you became invisible for the day, what would you do?

A “I would prank people by moving items around to see their reaction.”

Q What’s the weirdest thing you believed as a kid?

A “After seeing old pictures from my parents, I believed everything was in black and white then.”

Q What does your ideal weekend look like?

A “A camping trip with all my family like we used to do when we were kids. Play games, go hiking and sit around the campfire and tell stories.”

Q If you could only have three things on your bucket list, what would they be?

A “Skydive. That was something my dad did during the Vietnam War. He always talked about how he was airborne and loved to jump from planes.

“Take a trip to Cancun. This was something my friend and I planned to do after graduating high school.

“See the sunset over the ocean. This was actually accomplished in San Diego in 2024 during a conference that I attended.”

PHOTOS: Asked & Answered: Lina Benavidez

Q Do you have a secret talent? What is it?

A “I am not sure if you would consider it a secret talent, but more of an enjoyment. I love to dance. Dancing helps to relieve stress. My grandson and I dance in the evening to ‘Danny Go,’ a musical show he likes to watch.”

Q Have you ever seen a ghost? Where?

A “No, and never would I want to. That would be really scary for me.”

Q If your dog, cat or other pet could talk, what’s the first thing it would say?

A “My dog is always looking around for something to eat, so he would probably say ‘Feed me.’”

Q If you could have a lifetime supply of anything (except money), what would it be and why?

A “I would have to say Starbucks. I had not really been a big fan of Starbucks, but about a year ago a friend told me to try their creme brulee latte. I have been addicted to it since. Even though it is only sold during Christmas, I still stop every morning for a vanilla latte.”

Q You’re granted three wishes. What are they? (And you can’t ask for more wishes.)

A “To see and talk to my dad and brother, who just passed away this last year two months apart.

“Money to pay off all my bills so I can travel when I retire.

“To live a long life to see my grandkids grow up.”

Q Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A “I have three years before I retire from Valencia County, so retired, traveling and spending time with grandkids.”

Q If money didn’t matter, what job would you have?

A “An airline steward so that I can travel the world. When I retire, I think that I would try and get a part-time job as an airline steward to be able to travel to different places.”

Q Is there anything about you that people are surprised to learn?

A That I am a (county department) director with a high school diploma. While I believe college is very important, I think the experience and knowledge is sometimes more beneficial.”

Q If you could pick a day to relive again and again, which one would it be?

A “Any day that would include being with my dad and brother. It has been hard these last five months without them.”

Q Would you rather spend a day without your phone or without speaking? Why?

A “A day without speaking so that I can have my phone to distract me from not speaking.”

Q What is your biggest pet peeve? Why?

A “I do not know why, but when someone steps on a wet floor that was just mopped.”

Q What is that moment in your life you will always remember?

A “When my children were born.”

Q If you woke up as your 16-year-old self tomorrow, what would you do?

A “Cruise town and hang out at Sonic.”

Q What’s the strangest purchase you’ve made (or almost made)?

A “A couple years ago, I was at a friend’s house who had a snake. I actually thought about going to purchase one. It reminded me of how much my dad loved snakes.”

Q Where was your most unforgettable vacation?

A “San Diego sitting on the beach watching the sunset.”

Q If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would you go?

A “Cancun, Mexico.”