Council Member Leroy Bennett has been a member of the Suffolk City Council since 1996 and served as Vice Mayor from 2002 to 2006. Prior to serving on City Council, Council Member Bennett served as Chairperson of the Suffolk Industrial Development Authority from 1987 to 1994 and as a member of the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners from 1994 to 1996. He also serves as the City's representative on the Southeastern Public Service Authority and the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority.

Council Member Bennett is a retired General Foreman at Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation. He also served in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Forestall.