State lawmaker Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Milton, announced Wednesday he will not seek re-election to the Wisconsin legislature but instead intends to run for Rock County Register of Deeds.
Jorgensen has long-standing roots in the Rock County area, through employment with the General Motors plant located in Janesville for 13 years and serving as a shop steward for United Auto Workers Local 95. His prior experience helped him secure and maintain a seat in the assembly after first being elected in 2006.
“It has been a pleasure to serve alongside Rep. Jorgensen for the past eight years, including four years where he served as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus,” said Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, in a press release. “Rep. Jorgensen has shown tremendous leadership in our caucus and played a crucial role in advancing our Democratic agenda focused on creating jobs, strengthening public education and improving economic opportunity for all our citizens.”
Jorgensen championed a number of issues throughout the session, including restoring funding to the SeniorCare program. The program was restored by state lawmakers after Gov. Scott Walker proposed cuts to SeniorCare in his budget that would have boosted prescription drug costs for tens of thousands of people enrolled in the program.
Jorgensen’s retirement from the state legislature comes with a bid as Rock County Register of Deeds prompted by the retirement of current Register of Deeds Randy Leyes.
"Serving at the county level will give me a chance, every day, to help people one-on-one, while being a bit closer to home," Jorgensen said in a press release.
Other state Republicans have announced their retirement from the legislation includingstate Reps. John Murtha, R-Baldwin; David Heaton, R-Wausau; Dean Knudson, R-Hudson; and Tom Larson, R-Colfax.
