Joe Benetti was born and raised in Reno, Nevada .He was the oldest of four children.  Joe’s mother says he was the perfect child but his sister will tell you that he tormented her unmercifully. To this day sibling rivalry is evident at family gatherings when Joe and his sister try and cook together. Their respective spouses and their mother have learned to stay out of the kitchen when the two of them are cooking. 

During his high school years Joe played football on his school’s football team the year they won the State Championship and was also a hurdler for the track team. In between he found time to be elected as his Student Body president. As a teenager Joe worked with his Dad and Grandfather in the family business, Nevada Novelty.  Joe’s job was to service vending machines.

Joe moved to Coos Bay 24 years ago and started Benetti’s Italian Restaurant. Originally started as a deli the restaurant now is a dinner house. Though the restaurant kept him extremely busy Joe found it difficult to get “politics” out of his blood so he ran for city Council.  He served on the council for 12 years.  Joe truly loves Coos Bay and is proud to serve his second term as Mayor.