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Supervisor John J. Benoit was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on
Nov. 4, 2009 to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, replacing the
late Roy Wilson in representing the County’s 4th District, which stretches
from Palm Springs to Blythe. John was subsequently elected to a full,
four-year term on June 8, 2010.
“As an experienced elected official and former public safety officer, John
J. Benoit has a proven history of dedicated public service and is absolutely
the best person to fill this important position,” Governor Schwarzenegger
said. “I have no doubt that John will continue to promote the
interests of the people in Riverside County to the best of his ability in
this new role.”
Supervisor Benoit enjoyed a distinguished career in public service prior to
being appointed by the Governor to this important position.
Voters selected John to represent them in the 64th District in the
California State Assembly from 2002-2008, and was subsequently elected to
the State Senate’s 37th District in November of 2008.
A veteran of 31 years in law enforcement, John also served on the Desert
Sands School Board and was actively involved in community service before his
election to the State Legislature. Starting as a cadet with the Corona
Police Department in 1971, he joined the California Highway Patrol in 1973,
working in L.A., Sacramento and Bakersfield before being assigned as the
Indio Area Commander in 1988. He also attended the FBI National
Academy and served as a Volunteer Fire Captain with the Sunset-Whitney Fire
Department.
John's legislative priorities have included budget reform, job creation,
public safety, and education. His legislative successes in child care
safety were featured on “The Montel Williams Show,” a nationally syndicated
talk show. A strong fiscal conservative, John is nevertheless known
for his ability to reach effectively across the aisle, a talent that allowed
him to have forty pieces of legislation signed into law. He was
awarded the Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the California School
Boards Association, the School Transportation Coalition, the California
Rifle and Pistol Association and the California Narcotics Officers’
Association.
A member and Past President of both the United Way of the Desert and Indio
Rotary, John's hobbies include recreational reading and taking to the skies
as a commercial, instrument rated pilot.
John earned a BS degree in Public Safety at Cal State Los Angeles, and a
Master's in Public Administration at Cal State San Bernardino. Having
participated in language immersion programs in Mexico and Costa Rica, he
frequently communicates with the Spanish-language media. His bilingual
skills are invaluable to his work in the County of Riverside’s Fourth
District.
John and his wife Sheryl married in 1978. They are committed
parishioners of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. They have a
daughter Sarah and son Benjamin, who, together with his wife Norma, have
blessed them with their granddaughter, Abrielle Benoit.
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