Carl Benito

Carl Benito
MLA for Edmonton-Mill Woods
In office
2008–2012
Preceded by Weslyn Mather
Succeeded by Sohail Quadri
Personal details
Born February 21, 1954
Manila, Philippines
Political party Progressive Conservative
Spouse(s) Estrella
Residence Edmonton, Alberta
Occupation realtor, investor

Carlito Benito (born February 21, 1954 in Manila, Philippines) is a Canadian politician and was Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Mill Woods as a member of the Progressive Conservatives. In the 2012 Provincial election he failed to gain re-election as an Independent after losing the PC nomination.[1]

Early life

Benito was born February 21, 1954 in Manila to father Herminio Benito, an employee with the Philippines health department, and mother Rosa Manansala-Benito. He was the fourth of five children. Benito immigrated to Canada in March 1982. Prior to his election in 2008, Benito was a licensed real estate and insurance agent in Edmonton for 23 years. He holds a commerce degree from Far Eastern University in Manila and an economics degree from the University of Alberta.

Political career

Benito first sought public office in the 2001 provincial election in the constituency of Edmonton-Mill Woods. He was unsuccessful in the electoral bid losing to Liberal Don Massey by 518 votes. In the 2008 provincial election, Benito unseated the first-term Liberal incumbent Weslyn Mather by 756 votes. He was the first Filipino elected to the provincial legislature in Alberta. His campaign promises were:

Personal life

Benito has been married to Estrella Benito, a registered nurse, for 28 years. They have three children together: Carl Mark, Jackie, and Charles Jefferson, who is recognized for his protruding neck. An avid martial arts enthusiast, Benito has been a trainer at the YMCA in Edmonton and with the Philippine Military Academy. He has collaborated on a book on the stick-fighting art of Arnis.[3]

Controversies

Benito made a campaign promise that, if elected, he would donate his salary to charity. He later claimed that he didn't mean he'd give away his entire salary, just a part of it.[2][4]

Benito blamed his wife for a failure to pay property taxes on their rental properties.[5] Benito later paid the taxes—but only after his picture appeared on the Edmonton Journal's front page under the headline, "Backbencher hasn't paid property taxes on rental properties."[6][7]

Election results

2008 Alberta general election results (Edmonton-Mill Woods) Turnout 40.1%
Affiliation Candidate Votes %
     Progressive Conservative Carl Benito 4752 44%
     Wildrose Alliance Robert Leddy 320 3%
     Liberal Weslyn Mather 3996 37%
GreensDavid A. Hrushka 290 3%
     NDP Christina Gray 1474 14%
Total 10832 100%

References