Riverside County Supervisor Benoit dies

PALM DESERT (AP) — Veteran California legislator turned Riverside County supervisor John Benoit has died, officials said Tuesday.

Benoit, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, died Monday at his home in the Palm Springs area, a day before his 65th birthday, according to statements from his staff and from Riverside County.

Benoit was a Republican who was elected to the Assembly in 2002 and the state Senate in 2008.

The best-known legislation he authored was 2006’s “Aryanna’s Law,” which requires child daycare facilities to publicly disclose health and safety violations. The law was prompted by the daycare death of a Riverside child.

Benoit was also a pilot who flew his own plane and often gave rides between Sacramento and Southern California to his fellow lawmakers.

“John was a tireless public servant,” said state Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula. “It’s rare that one would ever see such a hard-working and dedicated elected official.”

Benoit was appointed to fill a vacancy om the Board of Supervisors by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009 then won a second term in 2014. Gov. Jerry Brown will appoint his replacement.

Benoit grew up in Riverside County and had a three-decade career in law enforcement with the Corona Police Department and California Highway Patrol before his political career began with a run for the county school board.