Bullock appoints Mike Cooney as lieutenant governor

Gov. Steve Bullock today appointed former Montana Secretary of State Mike Cooney as Montana’s new lieutenant governor.  

“Mike has spent the last four decades serving the people of Montana as both a legislator and as a longtime secretary of state,” Bullock said. “I’m impressed by Mike’s hard work and his commitment to public service. Mike is a proven leader who will work with me to responsibly manage our finances, hold the line on taxes, increase the number of high paying jobs, and ensure our economy remains one of the nation’s strongest.”

Cooney was first elected in 1976 to the Montana House of Representatives and served through 1980.  He then served three terms as secretary of state, from 1989 through 2000. Cooney was a state senator from 2003-2010, and was elected as Senate president in 2007.  From 2001 to 2006, Cooney served as director of Montana Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies. He currently serves as deputy director for the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

“It is an honor to serve Montana in this capacity,” Cooney said of his appointment. “I look forward to working with Gov. Bullock to make responsible decisions about the future of our state.”

Over the past several weeks, Bullock and his staff have reached out to dozens of civic leaders, elected officials and community members across Montana for input on filling the opening of the lieutenant governor position.  

Cooney is a fourth-generation Montanan and raised in Butte. He graduated from Butte High School in 1972 and the University of Montana in 1979. He and his wife DeeAnn have three grown children, Ryan, Colin and Adan.

Cooney will begin his work as lieutenant governor on Monday, Jan. 4.