Letter to the editor: Jill Cooper deserves reelection

Few representatives have gone to Harrisburg as well prepared to perform effectively as Jill Cooper. She is well known in the Murrysville community as a hard-working and enthusiastic individual who was willing to work as needed to successfully improve our schools, business community and her chosen political party.

Since beginning as a freshman legislator in January 2023, she’s moved to quickly learn the needs of the communities she represents and learn the delicate intricacies of getting things done in an equally divided Legislature.

Only a year after being sworn in, Cooper, a Republican, had her first bill passed unanimously in the House and Senate and signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro. That’s a remarkably short time for a freshman member, even more so since only seven Republican bills were passed. Cooper’s bill corrects a problem in which school districts lose funding if students have dual enrollment in junior colleges or universities. Beneficiaries are students and families as well as school districts. She reached across the aisle to involve a Democrat from Eastern Pennsylvania to join her in an initiative called “Meet me in the Middle,” which encourages members to solve problems without sacrificing one’s core principles. To me, that’s the epitome of statesmanship.

When measured against her opponent in the upcoming primary, Cooper stands head and shoulders above her competition in capabilities, enthusiasm and accomplishments. She well deserves to be reelected to represent us in Harrisburg.

Please join me in voting for Republican Jill Cooper on April 23.

Maury Fey

Murrysville