Benoit delays senate resignation

St. Sen John J. Benoit will delay his resignation from the California senate until Nov. 30. He plans on being sworn in as the Riverside County 4th District Supervisor on Dec. 1. Waiting two weeks, means the election for his successor will be part of the already scheduled June primary. This saves the county more than a $1 million which is the cost of conducting a special election.

This press release just arrived from Ray Smith, Riverside County's public information officer.

Benoit postpones resignation to save special-elections costs

Sen. John J. Benoit on Sunday rescinded his letter resigning from the Senate and submitted a revised letter with an effective date of Nov. 30. He will now be sworn in on Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the start of the regularly scheduled Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Benoit will hold a news conference today at 11 a.m., the previously scheduled time for his swearing-in, to answer questions about the cost-cutting decision. The news conference will be held in the Board of Supervisors chambers, 4080 Lemon St. in Riverside.

“After consulting with members of the Board, Senate leadership, the governor’s office and others, it became clear that a short postponement just made good sense,” Benoit said.

In a letter dated Sunday (Dec. 8) and faxed to the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, Benoit wrote:

“I am very honored by the governor’s appointment; however, I have been advised that a short deferral of my resignation may result in a significant savings to taxpayers. A slightly later date would potentially allow the consolidation of the senate special election with the statewide June primary.

“Therefore, I hereby request that you disregard my previous letter of resignation. With your concurrence, I will resign my seat as a California State Senator for the 37th Senate District effective Monday, November 30, 2009. I will be sworn in on Tuesday, December 1, 2009.”

By law, the governor has 14 days after a legislative seat becomes vacant to call for a special election. Based on the new effective date of Benoit’s resignation, Gov. Schwarzenegger could declare the need for the special election as late as Dec. 14. An election must be scheduled no more that 135 days later, unless it falls within 180 days of a regularly scheduled statewide election. The deferred resignation date will allow for the special election to be consolidated with the June 8, 2010, statewide primary election.

“We had expressed to the governor the urgency of filling this seat as quickly as possible. However, there did not appear to be anything so urgent pending that would justify expending up to $1.3 million in extra taxpayer funded special election costs,” said Board Chairman Jeff Stone. “I appreciate Sen. Benoit’s offer to delay being sworn in to avoid this extra expense.”

St. Sen. Benoit becomes Supervisor tomorrow

On Monday morning, Nov. 9, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors will welcome its fifth member. On Wednesday, Nov. 4, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his decision to appoint St. Sen. John J. Benoit (R 37th disrict) to fill the remaining term of former 4th District Supervisor Roy Wilson.

Chairman of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors Jeff Stone, and 3rd District Supervisor, said Monday’s swearing in will be a small private affair. A public ceremony will be held at the next scheduled board meeting 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Benoit’s resignation is effective Sunday, Nov. 8.

“It is not an easy thing to do, sign the letter resigning from the state senate,” he said. ‘But it’s right for me and good for Riverside County and the fourth district.”

The election to choose Benoit’s successor has not been scheduled, but Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Barbara Dunmore, has posted several possibilities. The primary would likely be in January and the general election in March 2010.

Wilson resigned on Aug. 21 and passed on only five days later. The governor has the authority to appoint a county supervisor’s replacement.

Benoit joins Riverside Board of Supervisors

The following press release was just received from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office:

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints John J. Benoit District IV Riverside County Supervisor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of John J. Benoit to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, representing District IV.

"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," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "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."

Benoit has served as a member of the California State Senate, representing the 37th District, since 2008. Previously, he served in the California State Assembly, representing the 64th District from 2002 to 2008.


"I'm honored to take on this role on the Riverside County Board of Supervisors," said Senator John J. Benoit. "I will use the experience I've gained through years of public service, including serving in the California State Senate and Assembly, to solve key issues facing our region."

Governor signs Benoit's Good Samaritan bill

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today (August 6) signed into law State Senator John J. Benoit's (R-Bermuda Dunes) Good Samaritan Protection Act (Senate Bill 39). Benoit's bill adds additional protection from prosecution for disaster service workers. Previous law provided that no disaster worker who performs disaster services during a state of war emergency, a state of emergency, or a local emergency shall be liable for civil damages on account of personal injury to or death of any person or property. Benoit's bill extends that protection to encompass acts of disaster workers "acting within the scope of their responsibilities under the authority of the govennmental emergency organization, as provided." It provides these protections for legal action filed on or after the effective date of this bill.

Benoit worked in conjunction with Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) who authored companion bill AB 83 which contained language originally in SB 39. AB 83, also signed into law by the governor on August 6, corrects a December 2008 California Supreme Court decision that had revised the state's long standing Good Samaritan bill by stripping protection from prosecution of those bystanders who provide rescue at the scene of an emergency.

Feuer's bill, with Benoit's original language, restores protection to those who provide rescue as well as those who provide medical aid.

This is Benoit's first piece of legislation to become law since he became a state senator.