Note: A candidate forum for this important election will be Tuesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Edge United Church of Christ, 4200 Buckeye Rd, Madison, Wisconsin 53716.
The Dane County Supervisor position for District 17 (Eastmorland) is vacant. Jeff Pertl who held that post since 2012 has taken a position in Gov. Evers’ administration. Three people have announced their candidacy: David Ahrens, Kristen Audet, and Amanda McKaig. All three have submitted nomination papers with the County Clerk. A primary election will be held on May 7, and the top two candidates will face off on June 4. (Districts 1 and 33 also have vacancies.)
We get news of city and state government often, but much less so about the county. Yet Dane County wields authority over many aspects of our daily lives and has a considerable budget. The Dane County Board of Supervisors has an operating budget of $558.56 million and a capital budget of $71.45 million. A portion of our property taxes is paid to Dane County — check your property tax bill.
The Dane County Board of Supervisors oversees a range of services, such as:
- Health and human services: care for adults with disabilities, child welfare, foster care, public health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, and housing stabilization.
- Public safety and justice reform: youth justice, alternatives to incarceration, jail diversion, district attorney’s office, Sheriff’s office, and the Dane County Jail.
- Environment, agriculture and natural resources: county park system, cleaning up our lakes, managing phosphorus runoff, managing lake levels, manure digesters and other agricultural collaborations.
- Operating the airport and zoo as well as overseeing zoning in townships.
Make your voice heard, vote in the primary election May 7 and the runoff election June 4.
Learn more about the candidates: