Joan Cohen

Joan Cohen
Member of the Maine House of Representatives for the 113th District
In office December 3, 2008 – December, 2010
Preceded by	John Brautigam
Succeeded by	Mark Dion
Personal details
Born	(1962-11-02) November 2, 1962 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Portland, Maine
Alma mater	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign University of Virginia School of Law
Profession	Attorney

Joan F. Cohen (born November 2, 1962) is an American attorney and politician. Cohen, a Democrat, served a single two-year term in the Maine House of Representatives from District 113, which included the North Deering neighborhood in Portland as well as a portion of adjacent Falmouth. She earned a bachelor’s degree in History for the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (1986) and a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law] (1989). She is married to former Portland Mayor Jim Cohen.

Career

From 1989 to 2000, Cohen practiced law in a variety of ways; she worked as a corporate real estate attorney for Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam & Roberts, served as assistant general counsel to the Maine State Chamber of Commerce (1992-94), general counsel for the Maine Medical Association (1994-98), and owned her own practice (1998-2000).

Political positions

At the time of her election, Cohen favored more restrictions on firearm ownership and was on the board of Maine Citizens Against Handgun Violence. She supported a statewide ban on smoking on bar and restaurant patios and decks, the implementation of a limited local option sales tax, and opposed the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. Cohen, who is Jewish, served on the board of the Jewish Community Alliance and sponsored a joint resolution commemorating the Holocaust.