HD 78 encompasses most of East Helena, and is often considered a swing district - the same House seat made LiTW's last "Battleground races" list - and it lived up to its reputation by opting for McCain by 10 votes over Obama, while awarding Democrats their votes in all the statewide races. Still, I'd call it a "leaning Democratic" district if I had to, and Democrat Jill Cohenour, who's termed out and running for SD 39, has represented it until now. Cohenour's husband, Montana highway patrol officer Joe Cohenour, is hoping to take her House seat in the legislature, and is running against Molly Severtson, of the Policy Institute.
And Severtson is the better candidate to represent the district.
From her website to the answers given in a recent Helena IR interview, Severtson has reiterated her vow to ensure that the state legislative budget process doesn't "further hurt those who are already hurting the most in this tough economy" and does protect "the most vulnerable among us, including children and the elderly." It's a position that jibes with the fight for fair taxation and against the kind of taxation Montanans see now: regressive and unfairly and disproportionately burdening middle- and working-class citizens. And a progressive tax is at the heart of any viable democratic society. Without it, our infrastructure and schools suffer, and roadblocks to prosperity are built out of an ever-increasing tax burden on those who can least afford it, while the richest among us grow richer.
Contrast that to Joe Cohenour's uninspiring response in the Helena IR to the question of state budget cuts: "As legislators, we aren't in the position to make the decision about trimming positions when we only come to town 90 days every two years."
But the main reason Severtson should win your vote this June is that she's a hardworking and excellent campaigner. Joe Cohenour has already lost two elections: one for his local school board, the other for his local senate seat, a campaign rumored by many in political insider circles to have been disasterous. Yellowstone Kelly already said it here on this site: "Joe ran a lackluster Senate race in 2006 and lost and most recently lost a local school board race, hardly a positive sign." While a candidate website -- or any web presence at all - never wins elections, that Joe Cohenour has neither may be representative of his 2010 campaigning.
You might think it safe to say the district leans left, but it's not a given. Especially this year, when an anti-establishment mood hangs over the country, and the Democratic base isn't as motivated to go to the polls as its Republican equivalent. And Montana Republican party Executive Director, Bowen Greenwood, adding another hat to his preponderous head, may be lurking in the wings to take a shot at this race. So, why take a chance? Progressive and hard-working: Severtson for HD 78. |
