Charles Benjamin
Charles Benjamin, Western Resource Advocates’ Nevada Office Director, died December 13, 2010 after a valiant battle with cancer. He was 60 years old.
Charles joined WRA’s Nevada office in January 2007. For 20 years, before moving to Nevada, he was the lobbyist and attorney for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club. His career in environmental law included a law practice representing more than 25 neighborhood associations across Kansas on a variety of land use and zoning issues. He was also a political science professor at Bethel College in Kansas where he taught courses in environmental studies, American government, and international relations, and served 16 years as a county commissioner in Harvey County, Kansas. Charles earned a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. from the School of International Relations at the University of Southern California, and a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of Kansas.
During his time in WRA’s Nevada office, Charles worked tirelessly to promote clean energy by developing and strengthening relationships with key Nevada stakeholders, including utilities, the state’s consumer advocate, legislators, the governor, business interests, and the environmental community. He was sought out by Senator Harry Reid for his advice on energy questions. He was WRA’s point person on energy matters at the Nevada state legislature; and he tracked regulatory proceedings relating to WRA’s issues.
Charles enjoyed working with environmental groups, politicians, attorneys, and policy wonks, and fought the good fight on all fronts. He made friends easily and charmed everyone with his zest for life. He loved movies and Jewish delicatessen food and could talk about any subject with gusto and authority. He was one of a kind. We will miss him.
On January 25, 2011, Nevada Senator and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid read the following statement about Charles into the Congressional Record:
"Mr. President, I rise to note the passing last December of a singular Nevadan, Charles Benjamin, who worked to promote clean energy. While he lived in Nevada for only four short years, his efforts will pay positive dividends long into the future.
"He passed away on December 13, 2010 after a valiant battle with cancer, at the young age of 60.
"Before Charles moved to Nevada in 2006, he was a lobbyist and attorney for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club. His career in environmental law included a law practice representing more than 25 neighborhood associations across Kansas on a variety of land use and zoning issues. He was also a political science professor at Bethel College in Kansas where he taught courses in environmental studies, American government, and international relations, and served 16 years as a county commissioner in Harvey County, Kansas. Charles earned a B.A., an M.A., and a Ph.D. from the School of International Relations at the University of Southern California, and a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of Kansas.
"During his time in Nevada, Charles worked tirelessly to promote clean energy by developing and strengthening relationships with key Nevada stakeholders, including utilities, the state’s consumer advocate, legislators, the governor, business interests, and the environmental community. He was quite helpful to me in my efforts to diversify Nevada's economy through development of our state's vast renewable energy resources and to make Nevada energy independent.
"Charles was a feisty advocate for environmental justice and came to Nevada to help drive our state and the nation toward a cleaner energy future.
"Nevada and the nation need more people like Charles who are willing to work hard to tap into the limitless resources of the sun, the wind and the earth, and energy efficiency, to build a stronger, cleaner and more sustainable world. He will be missed."