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 option declined the offer outright, whereas the fourth, Thomas M. Bowen, found the Idaho landscape so repugnant that he resigned from his role as governor and returned east after only one week in office. As a result, the fifth choice, Bennett, assumed the governorship several months later than Ballard's term ended; consequently, the territory was without a governor for an entire year before Bennett took up the position.