Former Indio CHP Chief, Sen. John Benoit is Fest Grand Marshal
State Senator John Benoit, former commander at the Indio office of the CHP, has been tabbed as the Grand Marshal of this year’s Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival Parade.
In addition to his distinguished career of 31 years in law enforcement, including the stint at the helm of the local highway patrol office, Sen. Benoit has served residents of the region first as a member of the Desert Sands School Board and later as Assemblyman (64 th District).
“I am honored to be chosen as Grand Marshal for this year’s Date Festival,” Senator Benoit said. “The festival is a great occasion for people around the valley, and around the county, to come together for a good time.
“And I’m excited to be a part of it.”
The Bermuda Dunes resident has made budget reform, public safety, education and child care safety top priorities. Making it easier for the freshman Senator to communicate with his constituency is the fact that he’s bilingual, a result of his Spanish language immersion programs in Mexico and Costa Rica.
Senator Benoit has been known for his ability to “reach across the aisle,” a talent which allowed him to have 35 pieces of legislation signed into law during his three terms in the Assembly. He has earned the distinction of “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.
He is a member and past president of both the United Way of the Desert and the Indio Rotary.
Senator Benoit has been married to Sheryl Benoit for some 30 years, and they are committed parishioners at St. Francis Catholic Church in La Quinta. They are also the parents of Sarah and Benjamin… and now the proud grandparents of Abrielle Benoit.
The senator is also a commercial, instrument-rated pilot.
This year’s Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival runs from Feb. 13 through Feb. 22, and the President’s Day Parade that Sen. Benoit will preside over, kicks off at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16.
Go to the 4 th District homepage at www.rivco.org to keep up with Rivco Fair/Fest activities.