Curtis Cochran has earned your vote

I've lived in western Montana long enough to know the difference between someone who talks about rural life and someone who's lived it. Curtis Cochran grew up in Thompson Falls and built a career in Montana's timber industry. After retiring, he stayed in St. Regis and kept showing up for his neighbors.

Even though your first term in Helena can feel like taking a drink from a 3-inch fire hose, he got to work and he sponsored a bill cutting red tape for small forestry projects so folks selling a pickup load of firewood aren't buried in paperwork. Years of living in a district where the nearest equipment dealer can be hours away led him to co-sponsor right-to-repair protections for our ranchers. Raising a family in rural Montana led him to co-sponsor a bill boosting teacher pay so schools in Superior, St. Regis, and across Mineral County can hold onto good educators.

There was only one property tax bill that made it out of committee. Curtis voted for his district and voted to cut property taxes for 80% of Montanans. Curtis also voted to keep our rural hospitals open and serves on three committees that directly affect HD 90, including Local Government and Transportation.

I know Curtis and I know that each of those decisions came from experience, work ethic and a neighborly willingness to step up to the plate and work together for the best outcome. Curtis earned my vote his first term. He's earned my vote on June 2.

— Gordon Hendrick, Superior