Benoit takes seat on RivCo Board of Supervisors

Former state Sen. John J. Benoit was sworn in today as a Riverside County supervisor, taking over the seat left vacant by the late Roy Wilson.

”He had a kind heart to think that I would be able to take his place,” Benoit said of his predecessor.

Wilson, who served on the board for 14 years, died in August from an undisclosed illness.

With friends and family gathered in the board chamber, Benoit took the oath of office, administered by state appellate Judge Douglas Miller, then briefly shared his thoughts on the tasks ahead.

”It’s obvious we’re in a very difficult time,” said Benoit. ”There are some very, very tough decisions that I and my colleagues are going to have to make. But together, I think we can all come out of this in good shape, charitably speaking.”

Benoit said he had seen economic ‘’slumps” in his two decades living and working in Riverside County.

”This is obviously the worst of the ones we’ve seen,” he said. ”But going forward, there’s going to be prosperity … growth and opportunity to develop this wonderful resource we call Riverside County.”

Board members welcomed Benoit as a ”valuable player” and ”fresh perspective.”

”On behalf of the 2.1 million citizens of this county, we’re delighted to have you,” said board Chairman Jeff Stone. ”It’s certainly nice to fill Supervisor Wilson’s request that you be his successor.”

Wilson resigned from the board Aug. 26 and last attended a meeting on July 21, before the board’s August recess.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger delayed appointing Benoit until the Legislature acted on the slew of water bills that became the comprehensive reform package the governor signed early last month.

Benoit was appointed Nov. 4. He opted to defer his resignation a month to save the county the cost of a special election to fill the 37th district senate seat he won in November 2008. That election can now be held during the traditional June primary.

Prior to serving in the senate, the 57-year-old Republican lawmaker served three terms in the state Assembly. He was a California Highway Patrol officer for 31 years, the last 13 of which he spent as commander of the CHP’s Indio station.

Over the last three months, in the period following Wilson’s death, Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, who represents the fifth district attempted to oversee fourth district affairs. The district covers most of the Coachella Valley, extending east to the Arizona state line.

Tags: Judge Douglas Miller, Riverside, Riverside County Supervisor, roy wilson, Sen. John Benoit, SWRNN

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