Alder Jake Lepper Announces Campaign for Election to a Full Term on the Fitchburg Common Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 4, 2025

FITCHBURG, WI — Alder Jake A. Lepper announced today that he will run for election to a full term on the Fitchburg Common Council, representing District 4, Seat 8, in the April 2026 municipal election. Lepper was appointed to the seat on November 25, 2025, in a 6–1 vote of the Council.

“Although I have served on the Council only briefly, my commitment to Fitchburg looks long into the future,” Lepper said. “Public service is not measured by the length of one’s tenure but by the earnestness of one’s effort to create a better community. I am running for a full term because I believe Fitchburg deserves leadership that is steady, informed, and ready to meet the challenges of a diverse and growing city.”

Prior to his appointment, Lepper served as a civilian member of the EMS Commission, contributing to discussions on emergency medical service delivery, staffing, and long-term planning. A police sergeant, Army National Guard veteran, and a certified advanced emergency medical technician, his professional background includes mental health crisis partnership work, LGBTQ+ community engagement, policy development, and training reforms rooted in evidence-based practice.

If elected, Lepper plans to prioritize alternative response models, strengthening Fitchburg’s capacity to respond to mental health crises and complex emergencies through coordinated efforts among EMS professionals, mental health specialists, and law enforcement. “A modern city requires a dynamic system of care,” Lepper said. “Alternative response is not about reform, it is a commitment to helping those in crisis with the right tools and the right people at the right time.”

Additional priorities for his first full term include continuing to expand attainable housing options, supporting equitable and sustainable development, improving transportation and connectivity, and ensuring that Fitchburg’s city services remain responsive to the needs of all residents.

“In the years ahead, our city will face challenges that define its character and chart its future,” Lepper added. “Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite authors, wrote in his last published work, ‘We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.’ I steadfastly believe that. I cannot claim to have all of the answers. But I do commit to being a leader ready to meet each moment with clarity, integrity, and optimism and with the sole purpose of helping my neighbors enjoy a safe, peaceful, and happy life.”

Lepper lives in Fitchburg with his husband, Michael, their daughter, and their two dogs, Francis and Benedict. Residents interested in supporting Jake’s campaign or learning more about his vision for Fitchburg can visit www.lepperforfitchburg.com