[3] He earned a bachelor's degree in business from Western Connecticut State University.
Benigni was an assistant principal in the Berlin, Connecticut school district before getting elected to the Meriden City Council.
His victory made Meriden the only municipality in Connecticut at the time to have a mayor without a partisan affiliation.
[6] As Superintendent, he has been credited with instituting full-day kindergarten programs in the district, as well as Saturday enrichment education services.
[4] In 2024, he presided over the expansion of English as a second language programs in the district to meet demand among new students.