21st century American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly
Jason M. Fields (born January 29, 1974) is an American politician, and a former stockbroker, financial advisor, and banker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly for six terms (2005–2013 & 2017–2021).[2][3] Fields ran for Milwaukee City Comptroller, the city's top financial job, in the 2020 spring election, but lost narrowly.[4][5]
In 2012, he lost his bid for reelection in the Democratic primary, losing to Mandela Barnes, son of a public school teacher, who had made major issues of Fields's support for the school voucher program, and Fields’s opposition to limiting interest rates charged by payday loan companies whose charges can exceed a 500% annual percentage rate. (Fields's brother Jarett, who was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in the nearby 19th District, was also defeated.) Fields was one of two veteran Milwaukee-area Democratic incumbents (the other being Peggy Krusick) to be unseated in that August primary by challengers who argued that the incumbent was too moderate to represent the district properly.[8][9]
2016 Return
In 2016, Barnes announced he would challenge incumbent Lena Taylor in a Democratic primary for her seat in the Wisconsin State Senate. This left an opening in the 11th Assembly District, and Fields decided to run again for his old seat. He defeated Milwaukee community organizer Darrol D. Gibson in the Democratic primary and was unopposed in the general election.[10][11]
2020 Comptroller election
In 2020, Fields announced he would run for election as Milwaukee City Comptroller. He topped the field in the February primary election, taking 43% of the vote, but was narrowly defeated in the general election by deputy comptroller Aycha Sawa.[12][13] Fields made an issue of Sawa's handling of an audit of lead piping which was rated as exaggerated and misleading.[14] The comptroller election was one of several Wisconsin elections significantly impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin.
Leaving office
On May 12, 2020, Fields filed paperwork with the Wisconsin Elections Commission declaring he would not be a candidate for re-election in 2020. He also released a press release confirming the decision, stating, "After much consideration about the future, and conversations with my dear wife, La Tasha Fields, I have decided to not seek re-election to the Wisconsin State Assembly, District 11."[15]
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)
Wisconsin Assembly (2012)
Wisconsin Assembly (2016, 2018)
Milwaukee Comptroller (2020)
References
^Salaries of Wisconsin State Elected Officials (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2019. p. 2. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
^Keith, Theo (June 19, 2016). ""I'm not perfect:" Former Assemblyman running again, and his announcement raised eyebrows". WITI. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^"Wisconsin District 11 State Assembly Results: Jason Fields Wins". The New York Times. December 13, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2017.
^ a bMilwaukee County Spring Election April 7, 2020 - Unofficial Results (Report). Milwaukee County Elections Commission. April 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Incumbents Who Have Filed a Notifications of Noncandidacy (EL-163) for the November 3, 2020 General Election (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. May 12, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (2019). "Elected officials: Legislature". Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 32–33. ISBN 978-1-7333817-0-3. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. State of Wisconsin 2011-2012 Blue Book. Madison: Joint Committee on Legislative Organization, 2011, p. 27.
^Marley, Patrick and Alison Bauter. "Longtime state legislators Fields, Krusick lose in primaries" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel August 14, 2012.
^"WisPolitics Election Blog: Progressives pull off series of wins in Milwaukee primaries". Archived from the original on 2012-08-18. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
^Rumage, Jeff (July 27, 2016). "Former legislator competing against political organizer for his old Assembly seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^ a bCanvass Results for 2016 Partisan Primary - 8/9/2016 5:00:00 AM (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. September 30, 2016. p. 22. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Carson, Sophie (March 30, 2020). "Milwaukee comptroller race centers on lead pipes and the role of city's chief financial officer". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^"Wisconsin Election Results — 2020 Spring General Election And Presidential Primary". WUWM. April 13, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Litke, Eric (April 3, 2020). "Attack ads in Milwaukee comptroller race exaggerate, mislead". PolitiFact. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^"Rep. Fields: Not seeking re-election to State Legislature in 2020" (Press release). Wispolitics.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Results of Fall Primary Election - 09/14/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 10, 2004. p. 25. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Results of Fall General Election - 11/02/2004 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 1, 2004. p. 15. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Results of Fall General Election - 11/07/2006 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 5, 2006. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Results of Fall General Election - 11/04/2008 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. November 25, 2008. p. 13. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^2010 Fall General Election Results Summary (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 1, 2010. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 21, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary - 8/14/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 28, 2012. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Canvass Results for 2012 Presidential and General Election - 11/6/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 26, 2012. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 21, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 7, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
^Milwaukee County Spring Primary February 18, 2020 (Report). Milwaukee County Elections Commission. February 18, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.