Melissa Agard Sworn In as Dane County Executive

MADISON, Wis. – Melissa Agard is now officially Dane County Executive. 

The former state senator won the August primary against three other candidates, then beat Dana Pellebon in the November 5 election. 

She was sworn in at the Alliant Energy Center on Wednesday. 

Agard is now leading the fastest-growing county in Wisconsin, and also one of the state’s main economic drivers. 

All that growth has led to a housing crisis. According to a study by a county committee, the county would need to add more than 1,700 units of affordable housing per year to keep up with demand. Agard said affordable housing would be one of her top priorities. 

The county also faces the same problem as many municipalities across Wisconsin: shared revenue funding just isn’t enough.

Shared revenue for cities and counties has stayed the same throughout high inflation over the last few years. That means even as the county is collecting more taxes from all these new residents, they’re not getting enough back to sustain services for the bigger population. 

Agard said some of her other top priorities are lowering overdose deaths, increasing mental health resources, and reforming the criminal justice system.