Page 41 - B2B Spring19

REPRESENTATIVE MARY ANN DUNWELL
HOUSE DISTRICT 84 HELENA/EAST HELENA
1. WHAT IS YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/CAREER – OUTSIDE OF BEING A LEGISLATOR?
I’m retired from my day job doing public information for the last 15 years in state government – The Departments of Public Health & Human Services, Environmental Quality, and Revenue. Before that,
I worked in public communication for non-pro t organizations, ran my own business for a while, and covered news as a broadcast journalist.
2. WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN KEEPING YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/CAREER GOING WHILE SERVING THE 4 MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATURE?
While I was working my day job, I took a four-month, unpaid leave of absence. The challenge was a real
tight household budget. I wish we would update our antiquated legislative process and move towards a semi- professional or professional legislature. The current system disenfranchises so many people and prevents them from running and serving in o ce, simply because they can’t afford it. We do not provide equal opportunity for people to serve.
3. WHAT BACKGROUND AND/OR SKILLS FROM YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/ CAREER DO YOU FEEL GIVE YOU EXTRA EXPERTISE
TO BE A BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR?
During the 2019 Montana
Legislative Session, I serve
on the House Taxation
and Human Services
Committees. My experience
with tax revenue and public
health at the Departments of Revenue and Public Health & Human Services inform my legislative e cacy.
4. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME REWARDING MOMENTS SO FAR THIS SESSION?
Fighting for mental health and suicide prevention policy, programs and funding. Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions and participate in the Helena Chamber’s publication.
SENATOR JILL COHENOUR
SENATE DISTRICT 42
1. WHAT IS YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/CAREER – OUTSIDE OF BEING A LEGISLATOR?
Chemist at the Montana State Environmental Laboratory. Testing water/soil samples for both public and private entities. We serve private individuals, local communities, state entities as well as Federal Agencies in our work for the state of Montana.
2. WHAT CHALLENGES DO YOU FACE IN KEEPING YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/CAREER GOING WHILE SERVING THE 4 MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATURE?
Since water freezes in the winter, it is not as hard for me to be absent for the time the legislature takes in the rst quarter of the year. We perform maintenance on instrumentation, work on special projects, prepare for EPA audits, or develop new methods during the winter. We gear up for performing analysis at about the same time I return to the lab.
3. WHAT BACKGROUND AND/ OR SKILLS FROM YOUR JOB/BUSINESS/ CAREER DO YOU
FEEL GIVE YOU
EXTRA EXPERTISE
TO BE A BETTER, MORE EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR?
I love to work on bills that deal with water in Montana. Whether that is dealing with Senior Water Rights, the adjudication process, or getting into science issues, I think I bring a different perspective than most legislators. I have used my science background and skills to question data and testimony offered on a number of bills, and to enlighten discussions.
LEGISLATORS CONTINUED ON PAGE 42
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