Jason Fields
Jason M. Fields (born January 29, 1974) is an American politician, and a former stockbroker, financial advisor, and banker from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing the 11th Assembly District since 2017. Fields previously represented this district from 2005 to 2013. Fields lost his seat to Mandela Barnes, who defeated him in the 2012 Democratic primary, but was able to reclaim it when Barnes ran for election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2016.[2][3] Fields ran for Milwaukee City Comptroller, the city's top financial job, in the 2020 spring election, but lost narrowly.[4] On May 12, 2020, he filed paperwork indicating he would not run for re-election in 2020.[5]
Jason Fields | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 11th district | |
Assumed office January 2, 2017 | |
Preceded by | Mandela Barnes |
In office January 3, 2005 – January 7, 2013 | |
Preceded by | Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum |
Succeeded by | Mandela Barnes |
Personal details | |
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | January 29, 1974
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | La Tasha |
Residence | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
Alma mater | Cardinal Stritch University (B.S., 2014) |
Profession | Finance |
Salary | $52,999[1] |
Website | State Assembly website Personal twitter |
Background
Fields was born in Milwaukee on January 29, 1974, and graduated from Milwaukee Lutheran High School in 1992. He worked as a stockbroker, financial advisor, and banker, and is a certified financial education instructor. He returned to school as an adult, earning his Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Milwaukee's Cardinal Stritch University in 2014. He is a member of the Prince Hall Masons, the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks Lodge of Milwaukee #46, and the International Society of Business Leaders.[6]
Public office
Fields, who had served as Fourth Congressional District Chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party and held other party office, was first elected to the Assembly in 2004, and was thrice reelected from 2006-2010). His committee assignments included those on financial institutions (which he chaired during the 2009-2011 session); insurance; jobs, economy and small business, education reform; transportation; ways and means, workforce development, economic development; and urban and local affairs.[7]
2012 Primary Defeat
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' support for the school voucher program, and Fields’ opposition to limiting interest rates charged by payday loan companies whose charges can exceed a 500% annual percentage rate. (Fields' 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 conservative 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 exaggerrated 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)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic Primary Election, September 14, 2004 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields | 2,793 | 45.16% | ||
Democratic | Leonard Goudy | 2,172 | 35.12% | ||
Democratic | Jim Malloy | 1,173 | 18.97% | ||
Scattering | 46 | 0.74% | |||
Total votes | 6,184 | 100.0% | |||
General Election, November 2, 2004 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields | 19,625 | 99.37% | +0.62% | |
Scattering | 124 | 0.63% | |||
Plurality | 19,501 | 98.74% | +1.23% | ||
Total votes | 19,749 | 100.0% | +106.34% | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Election, November 7, 2006 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields (incumbent) | 11,626 | 99.42% | +0.05% | |
Scattering | 68 | 0.58% | |||
Plurality | 11,558 | 98.84% | +0.09% | ||
Total votes | 11,694 | 100.0% | -40.79% | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Election, November 4, 2008 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields (incumbent) | 21,083 | 99.24% | -0.18% | |
Scattering | 162 | 0.76% | |||
Plurality | 20,921 | 98.47% | -0.36% | ||
Total votes | 21,245 | 100.0% | +81.67% | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Election, November 2, 2010 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields (incumbent) | 14,860 | 99.10% | -0.14% | |
Scattering | 135 | 0.90% | |||
Plurality | 14,725 | 98.20% | -0.28% | ||
Total votes | 14,995 | 100.0% | -29.42% | ||
Democratic hold |
Wisconsin Assembly (2012)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic Primary Election, August 14, 2012 | |||||
Democratic | Mandela Barnes | 2,596 | 68.14% | ||
Democratic | Jason Fields (incumbent) | 1,206 | 31.65% | ||
Scattering | 8 | 0.21% | |||
Total votes | 3,810 | 100.0% | |||
General Election, November 6, 2012 | |||||
Democratic | Mandela Barnes | 16,403 | 98.79% | -0.31% | |
Scattering | 201 | 1.21% | |||
Plurality | 16,202 | 97.58% | -0.62% | ||
Total votes | 16,604 | 100.0% | +10.73% | ||
Democratic hold |
Wisconsin Assembly (2016, 2018)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic Primary Election, August 9, 2016 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields | 2,933 | 58.47% | ||
Democratic | Darrol D. Gibson | 2,063 | 41.13% | ||
Scattering | 20 | 0.40% | |||
Total votes | 5,016 | 100.0% | |||
General Election, November 8, 2016 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields | 18,418 | 98.76% | -0.07% | |
Scattering | 232 | 1.24% | |||
Plurality | 18,186 | 97.51% | -0.14% | ||
Total votes | 18,650 | 100.0% | +6.36% | ||
Democratic hold |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
General Election, November 6, 2018 | |||||
Democratic | Jason Fields (incumbent) | 17,162 | 98.75% | ||
Scattering | 218 | 1.25% | |||
Plurality | 16,944 | 97.49% | -0.02% | ||
Total votes | 17,380 | 100.0% | -6.81% | ||
Democratic hold |
Milwaukee Comptroller (2020)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary Election, February 18, 2020 | |||||
Nonpartisan | Jason Fields | 25,305 | 42.98% | ||
Nonpartisan | Aycha Sawa | 17,913 | 30.42% | ||
Nonpartisan | Alex Brower | 15,248 | 25.90% | ||
Scattering | 412 | 0.70% | |||
Total votes | 58,878 | 100.0% | |||
General Election, April 7, 2020 | |||||
Nonpartisan | Aycha Sawa | 41,297 | 50.40% | ||
Nonpartisan | Jason Fields | 40,299 | 49.18% | ||
Scattering | 347 | 0.42% | |||
Plurality | 998 | 1.22% | |||
Total votes | 81,943 | 100.0% |
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.
- Milwaukee 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.
- http://elections.wispolitics.com/2012/08/progressives-pull-off-series-of-wins-in.html
- Rumage, Jeff (July 27, 2016). "Former legislator competing against political organizer for his old Assembly seat". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Canvass 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. 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. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Canvass Results for 2012 Partisan Primary - 8/14/2012 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. August 28, 2012. p. 19. 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. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Canvass Results for 2016 General Election - 11/8/2016 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. December 22, 2016. p. 11. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Canvass Results for 2018 General Election - 11/6/2018 (PDF) (Report). Wisconsin Elections Commission. February 22, 2019. p. 12. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- Milwaukee County Spring Primary February 18, 2020 (Report). Milwaukee County Elections Commission. February 18, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
External links
- Representative Jason Fields at Wisconsin Legislature (Official page)
- Fields for Milwaukee (Campaign site) (Archived version)
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Jason Fields at Ballotpedia
- Follow the Money - Jason M Fields
- Campaign 2008 campaign contributions at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Wisconsin State Assembly | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Johnnie E. Morris-Tatum |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 11th district 2005 – 2013 |
Succeeded by Mandela Barnes |
Preceded by Mandela Barnes |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 11th district 2017 – present |
Incumbent |