Jamie Bakken was named the new vice chairman of the Iroquois County Board Jan. 13.

The seat was left after Scott Watts passed away unexpectedly in December.

“I am very honored to be elected vice chairman of the Iroquois County Board,” Bakken said via phone. “I am extremely thankful for the encouragement from Chairman Paul Ducat to embrace this opportunity, and the full support of the board means a great deal to me.”

“I want to acknowledge the legacy of former Vice Chairman Scott Watts, who passed away unexpectantly and previously held the position. I have very big shoes to fill. Scott Watts was an amazing leader and a role model to many. I truly loved working with him, and we shared many of the same values and beliefs. I had so much more to learn from him, and his leadership will be deeply missed.”

“One of my top priorities will be working closely with Chairman (Paul) Ducat on reorganizing board committees. “With Scott’s passing, there are committees that need leadership, and now more than ever it’s important that we utilize the strengths of all board members.”

“In addition to committee restructuring, the board will continue to focus on several key issues, including rural transportation and renewable energy matters such as wind, solar, and battery projects.

Bakken was seated to a four-year term on Dec. 1, 2024. Her current roles include chairman of the Management Committee, vice chairman of the Zoning and Planning Committee, and an active member of the Highway Committee and the Tri-County (Livingston, Ford, & Iroquois) Rural Transportation Committee.

“I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of Iroquois County and working collaboratively with my fellow board members to address the challenges and opportunities ahead,” she said.