A third choice declined the offer entirely, while the fourth, Thomas M. Bowen, disliked the Idaho landscape so intensely that he resigned from the governorship and returned east after only one week in office. As a result, fifth choice Bennett took office several months after Ballard's term expired; all told, the territory had been effectively without a governor for an entire year when Bennett accepted the position.
A third choice rejected the offer entirely, while the fourth, Thomas M. Bowen, detested the Idaho landscape so intensely that he quit as governor and returned east after just one week in office. Consequently, the fifth choice, Bennett, took over several months after Ballard's term ended; altogether, the territory had been effectively without a governor for an entire year when Bennett accepted the position.