STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEFF WOOD OF CHIPPEWA FALLS HAS LEFT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. WOOD FILED HIS NOMINATION PAPERS AS AN INDEPENDENT ON TUESDAY. HE'S BEEN ELECTED TO THE 67TH DISTRICT THREE TIMES AS A REPUBLICAN, BUT SAID HE JUST COULDN'T SUPPORT THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AGENDA ANYMORE. HE SAID WHAT WAS ONCE THE PARTY OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY ISN'T ANYMORE. HE ALSO CITED THE COMMITMENT OF TROOPS WITHOUT A CLEAR MISSION OR EXIT STRATEGY, AND THE SUSPENSION OF PERSONAL LIBERTIES IN THE NAME OF NATIONAL SECURITY. WOOD SAID HE'S ALWAYS VOTED HIS CONSCIENCE, RATHER THAN ALONG PARTY LINES, AND THE CHANGE WON'T AFFECT THE WAY HE VOTES. HE SAYS HE'S STILL THE SAME PERSON HE WAS YESTERDAY, WITH THE SAME BELIEFS. WOOD SAYS HE'S TAKING A RISK BY BREAKING AWAY FROM THE PARTY. HE SAYS HE WAS RUNNING UNOPPOSED, BUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN ENTER ANOTHER CANDIDATE IF THEY WISH.