The local partisan primary election is coming up on August 13, 2024. On the ballot are constitutional amendments, state legislative races, and the race for Dane County Executive–for a seat recently vacated by longtime Executive Joe Parisi. And in this third episode of our series of interviews with candidates for Dane County Executive we’re joined by Meilssa Agard, who shares her goals for the county with News Director, Chali Pittman.

Agard wants voters to know that she champions working class issues and is committed to addressing the significant affordable housing shortage in Dane County. She says that “democracy is a verb” and that she’ll continue to advocate for cannabis reform, if elected. Agard also discusses Dane County’s leadership on climate change and the necessity of addressing the budget by tackling shared revenue in the state legislature. 

Melissa Agard is a Dane County native and single mom to four sons. Before diving into politics, she owned a small business and worked in the private sector. Now, she’s been a lawmaker for over a decade, and is currently finishing out a stint as state Senator for the 16th district, representing the eastern part of Dane County along with parts of Jefferson and Dodge Counties.  Before being elected to the state Senate, she served as a Dane County Board Supervisor and in the state assembly.

Photo courtesy of Chali Pittman/WORT.

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