Agard
State Sen. Melissa Agard declared victory Tuesday evening in the race for Dane County executive.
Agard, widely regarded as the favorite to take over as county executive for the final few months of the current term, held a nearly two-to-one lead over former Dane County Supervisor Dana Pellebon with about two-thirds of precincts reporting.
"I am humbled by the trust the voters have placed in me," Agard said in a statement. "As someone who was born and raised in Dane County, representing the roughly 600,000 people who call our county home is a true honor. I am proud of the broad, diverse coalition we have built throughout this campaign."
In August, Agard dominated the four-way primary for the top county government spot, winning 57% of the vote. Pellebon came in second place in the primary with about 17% of the vote.
Agard, who has served in the state Legislature since 2013, led Pellebon, the executive director of the RCC Sexual Violence Resource Center, in fundraising and endorsements from political and business leaders in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
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The county executive is typically elected to a four-year term. But because the previous county executive, Joe Parisi, retired before his term was over, Agard will serve out the remainder. Another county executive contest in April will elect someone to a full four-year term.
Parisi has backed Agard to be his permanent successor.
Agard, whose time in the state Legislature includes a year as Senate minority leader, cast her relationships in the state Capitol as an opportunity to notch legislative wins for the county. Pellebon pointed to her experience in the nonprofit world as a more practical skill set for the broad role, which ranges from running or helping to run the Henry Vilas Zoo, Dane County Regional Airport and Alliant Energy Center to coordinating housing policy, public safety and road maintenance with municipalities across the county.
Both candidates have said addressing the county’s housing crisis is among their top priorities.
"Our county is growing rapidly," Agard said in Tuesday's statement, and "we must prepare for this growth by promoting economic development, supporting expanded opportunities for housing supply, and protecting our agricultural heritage and rural communities."
The county executive also proposes an annual budget, which is then amended by the Dane County Board of Supervisors.
Dane County’s 2025 budget was proposed by interim County Executive Jamie Kuhn, who signed the final version on Nov. 4. The next county budget process won’t take place until after the April election.
