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Melissa has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Melissa was previously a small business owner. 

Melissa Agard - Ballotpedia

Melissa Agard is the current Dane County Executive. She was elected during a special election in November 2024. She served one term as a state senator from 2020 to 2024. She was also elected as a state representative in 2012 and re-elected in 2014, 2016, and 2018. From 2010 to 2014, she served as a representative to the 18th Supervisory District of the Dnae County Board. 

Advocated for expanding affordable housing initiatives and access to behavioral health care.

Supports expanding affordable housing initiatives and access to behavioral health care.

- Supports expanding affordable housing initiatives and access to behavioral health care.

Housing & Urban Development

Wants to upgrade the Alliant Energy Center to make it a modern, sustainable hub for tourism, business, and community events.

- Wants to upgrade the Alliant Energy Center to make it a modern, sustainable hub for tourism, business, and community events.

Public Services

Melissa Agard wins election for Dane County executive | Elections ...

As a state senator, advocated for policy changes to prevent a backlog of sexual assault evidence.

As a state senator, sponsored legislation to legalize marijuana.

- As a state senator, advocated for policy changes to prevent a backlog of sexual assault evidence.
- As a state senator, sponsored legislation to legalize marijuana.

Public Safety

Supports establishing a regional transportation planning agency, which would require action from state lawmakers.

Supports establishing a regional transportation planning agency.

- Supports establishing a regional transportation planning agency.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Dane County executive race Q&A: Melissa Agard and Stephen Ratzlaff - The Cap Times

Plans to diversify revenue sources to reduce reliance on property taxes and collaborate with state and federal officials to secure funding for essential services.

Supports increasing wages, creating affordable child care options, and making health care more economical.

Supports increasing wages, creating affordable child care options, and making health care more economical, believing these would also make housing more affordable.

- Plans to diversify revenue sources to reduce reliance on property taxes and collaborate with state and federal officials to secure funding for essential services.
- Supports increasing wages, creating affordable child care options, and making health care more economical, believing these would also make housing more affordable.

Economy

Plans to implement initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and promote green energy solutions.

- Plans to implement initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and promote green energy solutions.

Energy & the Environment

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Melissa Agard

Stephen is a Wisconsin native who lives in Deforest.

Stephen Ratzlaff previously ran for State Assembly twice but did not win. 

Supports opening up more rural land in Dane County for housing development.

Supports reducing property taxes while maintaining essential services through smarter budgeting and resource allocation.

- Supports opening up more rural land in Dane County for housing development.
- Supports reducing property taxes while maintaining essential services through smarter budgeting and resource allocation.
- Supports cutting property taxes by 30%.

Promises to ensure schools, public safety, and infrastructure remain fully funded by eliminating wasteful spending and implementing more efficient government practices.

Supports establishing transparency measures, including regular audits and open forums for citizen feedback, to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.

- Promises to ensure schools, public safety, and infrastructure remain fully funded by eliminating wasteful spending and implementing more efficient government practices.
- Supports establishing transparency measures, including regular audits and open forums for citizen feedback, to ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely.

Supports expanding the sheriff's department budget.

- Supports expanding the sheriff's department budget.

Plans to allocate a portion of property tax revenue directly to road improvements.

- Plans to allocate a portion of property tax revenue directly to road improvements.

Believes lowering property taxes will attract new businesses, encourage investments, create jobs, and boost local revenues without raising taxes elsewhere.

- Believes lowering property taxes will attract new businesses, encourage investments, create jobs, and boost local revenues without raising taxes elsewhere.

As of June 6, 2025, Stephen W. Ratzlaff, Jr. ’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Stephen W. Ratzlaff, Jr. 

- A county executive coordinates and directs all administrative and management functions of the county's government. They appoint and supervise department heads and draft the county's annual budget.
- The county executive has the authority to veto local ordinances and resolutions, but the county board can override the veto with a 2/3 vote. 
- County executives are elected to 4-year terms.
- Eleven counties in Wisconsin have a county executive form of government. 