Jim Bennett under consideration for RI Economic Development czar
Governor Chafee is strongly considering Jim Bennett of Narragansett to be the state’s new economic development director, sources tell WRNI. If nominated he would replace Keith Stokes, the longtime Newport County Chamber of Commerce director who is a Don Carcieri holdover.
Bennett, a Republican and business owner, is a Brown University graduate and a scion of Rhode Island’s celebrated hockey-playing Bennett family. Bennett ran unsuccessfully for Rhode Island governor in the GOP primary in 2002, when he lost to Don Carcieri. A former chairman of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority, Bennett also ran unsuccessfully for state general treasurer against Democrat Paul Taveras.
Bennett’s father Harvey, a Canadian immigrant, came to Providence to tend goal for the Providence Reds, the American Hockey League franchise that lit up the old Rhode Island Auditorium for many years. The senior Bennett played 14 seasons for the Reds and was a fan favorite. He is in the NHL record books for surrendering a famous goal in 1945 when he was in the net for the Boston Bruins. Bennett gave up the 50th goal of the season to Maurice `Rocket’ Richard, the legendary Montreal Canadians scorer. All five of Harvey Bennett’s sons played professional hockey; Harvey Bennett Jr., Curt Bennett and Bill Bennett in the National Hockey League, John Bennett in the World Hockey Association and Jim in the International Hockey League.
Jim Bennett’s son, Mac Bennett, is a college hockey star at Michigan who was drafted by the Montreal NHL franchise.
Bennett was an ally of former Republican Gov. Lincoln Almond, but was not close at all to Carcieri. Jim Bennett was also then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush’s Rhode Island campaign manager in Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign.
On Politics 
Scott-any more info on this guy? Preferably what if any experience with economic development?
so, will he start a “hockey” business in RI, we already have a team- the P-Bruins
whatever happened to the proverbial “national search” for a proven expert in econ. development. When will Chafee stop recycling the “old boys” crowd.
While he is at it, how about a minority appointment here or there ?
what becomes clear is that Chafee knows little about state government, he already referred to Licht as his ” deputy governor”; that may prove to be more than prophetic, but rather a Freudian projection about who he will let run the state government.
Some good points Joe. But remember the last time they did an intergalactic national search for EDC director the Arizona woman they recruited declined the job at the last-minute and we ended up with Rhode Islander Keith Stokes.