Jerry Fischer drops out of Davison County Commission race

• Jerry Fischer

Jerry Fischer

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In a surprise announcement Tuesday, veteran Davison County Commissioner Jerry Fischer announced he will not seek re-election this November.

Fischer, who has represented District 2 on the commission for 12 years, made his brief announcement during the opening moments of the board’s regular weekly meeting.

He issued a written statement that read, “I have thought about this for some time now. In everyone’s life, there are uphill battles you cannot overcome.”

He did not elaborate on those battles in a statement or a later interview.

The remainder of the note gave a brief biography and ended with: “For the past 12 years, it was an honor to represent the people and the people that supported me for 12 years in the old District 2.” The district boundaries were redrawn recently following the receipt of new census data, and Fischer was an outspoken critic of the new boundaries.

Afterward, the other commissioner expressed their surprise in interviews with The Daily Republic.

Commission Chairman John Claggett called Fischer’s announcement a “real shocker,” and fellow com-missioner Gerald Weiss said it “shocked the Dickens out of me. I couldn’t believe it.”

Fischer had been heavily involved in daily commission operations, Weiss said, “so it really surprised me.”

Weiss said he was told by Fischer that Fischer was “fed up with the system.”

Commissioner Denny Kiner was out of town Tuesday on personal business, and commission newcomer Kim Weitala declined to comment. Fischer’s decision leaves the field open to Republican Randy Reider, who has filed the only challenge to Fischer, a Democrat, in the District 2 race.

Auditor Susan Kiepke said Reider could still be challenged if an independent files as a candidate. Independents have until June 5 to submit election petitions, she said. The general election is Nov. 6.

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