Corrigan says she is happy to cooperate with the small band of conservatives and moderates on the board. She noted that a rule change proposed by Verona conservative Mike Willett at her first meeting as board chair passed easily.

"I’m a really hard worker, I think I have good diplomatic skills working with others," she says.

East side Madison Sup. John Hendrick’s one year stint as board chair marks the shortest tenure for a board leader since Carl Felton was in charge from 1946 to 1947. Corrigan and other supervisors were hesitant to criticize Hendrick, who was first elected to the board in 1994, but they emphasized what they believe are Corrigan’s commitments to consensus-building and transparency.

“I think Sharon will be a little more inclusive,” says town of Madison Sup. Shelia Stubbs. “I think she’ll offer some of the newer members a little more guidance.”

Although Corrigan rejects the notion that progressives on the board drew the county board districts in 2011 with the intention of further marginalizing conservatives, she says she and many other left-leaning board members are interested in establishing an independent redistricting system for the county.

“I would not be surprised at all if that were to happen,” she says.