Crawford County Board Chairperson Pete Flesch confirmed what has become an open secret, in some quarters, when he acknowledged Monday his intention to run for the state assembly.

Flesch, a Democrat, would be running for the seat currently held by Wisconsin State Representative Lee Nerison (R-Westby).

Flesch explained that he intends to register “later this week” as a candidate in the race for 96th Wisconsin State Assembly District.

“I have formed an exploratory committee and plan to make a formal statement at some point in the future,” Flesch said.

Flesch, a dairy farmer from the Rolling Ground area, would face a retired dairy farmer in Lee Nerison, who was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2004.