Jill & Joe file for legislature, flanked by family & friends

MEA-MFT member Jill Cohenour and her husband, Joe, believe in public service.

They both work for the State of Montana-Jill as a chemist for the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Joe as a Montana highway patrol officer.

They're both involved in the East Helena Parent Teacher Association. Joe chairs the East Helena school board.

Joe is involved with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Jill serves on the AFT Public Employees Program and Policy Council.

Both are active in their local and statewide unions. Jill serves on the MEA-MFT board. Joe belongs to the Montana Public Employees Association (MPEA).

Both have served on the state employees joint pre-budget bargaining team.

And on January 21, they both filed to run for the Montana Legislature.

They are the first husband-wife team in Montana's recent history to run for legislature at the same time. Jill is a two-term legislator. Joe is running for the first time in Senate District 39, which takes in Jill's house district and most of Jefferson County, including Boulder.

"I'm pretty optimistic," said Joe, regarding their chances of winning. "It'll certainly be interesting."

"Currently we have 15 MEA-MFT members serving in the state legislature," said MEA-MFT President Eric Feaver.

"That's a good thing for Montana. Our members make great legislators. They carefully weigh the issues, listen to all sides, and make smart, reasoned decisions. As an MPEA member, Joe will do the same."

Thanks, Joe and Jill, for doing Work That Matters for Montana's people!

Read about other Amazing MEA-MFT members.