Incumbent lawmakers, Murphy
By the Helena IR - 11/03/06
The Helena area is nearing another legislative session with a bunch of local lawmakers who have chalked up a great deal of hands-on experience. It won’t be long before term limits start to mow them down, but for now our community is being well served by these incumbents, Democrats and Republicans alike.
That’s why, while we appreciate the efforts of their challengers, we’re recommending that voters re-elect Democrat Mike Cooney in Senate District 40, Republican Dave Lewis in Senate District 42, Democrat Jill Cohenour in House District 78, Democrat Christine Kaufmann in House District 81, Republican Scott Mendenhall in House District 77, Democrat Dave Gallik in House District 79, Democrat Mary Caferro in House District 80, Republican John Ward in House District 84, and Democrat Hal Jacobson in House District 82.
We don’t always agree with the way these incumbents vote, but each of them has proved to be capable, well informed, and dedicated to their constituents and their community — as well as passionate about the issues that drove them to run in the first place. Only one position representing the immediate Helena area — Senate District 39, which lies in most of Jefferson County and parts of southern Lewis and Clark County — lacks an incumbent this year. And, as it turns out, the wide open race attracted quality candidates from both parties.
Democrat Joe Cohenour of East Helena is a Highway Patrol officer who also has been active in the community. Most notably, he’s served as chairman of the East Helena School Board for the past six years. In that capacity, he helped draft legislation and testified during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions.
Republican Terry Murphy is a Cardwell area farmer who served in the Legislature for six years during the 1970s. He’s been active in state agricultural circles, and has served on the Jefferson County Planning Board and the Whitehall School Board.
Both candidates are savvy on the issues and actually agree on many of them. We’re endorsing Murphy because of his greater experience.
That’s why, while we appreciate the efforts of their challengers, we’re recommending that voters re-elect Democrat Mike Cooney in Senate District 40, Republican Dave Lewis in Senate District 42, Democrat Jill Cohenour in House District 78, Democrat Christine Kaufmann in House District 81, Republican Scott Mendenhall in House District 77, Democrat Dave Gallik in House District 79, Democrat Mary Caferro in House District 80, Republican John Ward in House District 84, and Democrat Hal Jacobson in House District 82.
We don’t always agree with the way these incumbents vote, but each of them has proved to be capable, well informed, and dedicated to their constituents and their community — as well as passionate about the issues that drove them to run in the first place. Only one position representing the immediate Helena area — Senate District 39, which lies in most of Jefferson County and parts of southern Lewis and Clark County — lacks an incumbent this year. And, as it turns out, the wide open race attracted quality candidates from both parties.
Democrat Joe Cohenour of East Helena is a Highway Patrol officer who also has been active in the community. Most notably, he’s served as chairman of the East Helena School Board for the past six years. In that capacity, he helped draft legislation and testified during the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions.
Republican Terry Murphy is a Cardwell area farmer who served in the Legislature for six years during the 1970s. He’s been active in state agricultural circles, and has served on the Jefferson County Planning Board and the Whitehall School Board.
Both candidates are savvy on the issues and actually agree on many of them. We’re endorsing Murphy because of his greater experience.
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