Riverside County: Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit lost his battle with cancer Monday, Dec. 26.

Benoit, age 64 announced in November he was fighting pancreatic cancer.  It was reported he died peacefully in his home Monday evening.

Benoit discovered a growth on his pancreas from a CT scan and made a public announcement that he would scale back his workload. He died from advanced pancreatic cancer.

Benoit's term does not expire until 2018 and Gov. Jerry Brown has the legal right to appoint a successor. In 2009 then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Benoit to serve the remainder of then-Supervisor Roy Wilson who stepped down due to health related reasons. Wilson died in August of 2009.

The season lawmaker was well respected in the community and among his peers. Benoit served the Fourth District on the county Board of Supervisors. The Fourth District served more than 400,000 residents from the Coachella Valley to Blythe.

Temecula residents may remember Benoit for supporting the Liberty Quarry issue that pit then-Supervisor Jeff Stone who represented that area against Benoit. Stone was against the quarry.

Benoit was married to his wife Sheryl, and two children, Sarah and Ben. Ben Benoit is a Wildomar council member. Benoit also had two grandchildren.

Ben Benoit posted on his Facebook page, “Dad, I love you, God speed. Tonight I lost my father. He went peacefully with my mother and sister at his side. We will miss him. Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers over the past few weeks.”

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