Kelly Ohlson - Biography

Kelly moved to Fort Collins in 1973 to attend graduate school at CSU and to live in the Rocky Mountain west.

Originally from a small town in Iowa, Kelly received a bachelor’s of science degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and a master’s degree in Education from CSU.

Kelly has been a tenured junior high school teacher, worked in historical building renovation, headed a community nonprofit, and was appointed 3 times by Governor Roy Romer to be Larimer County Public Trustee.

First elected to city council in 1983, Kelly served as mayor (1986-1987) and assistant mayor (1985-1986). Kelly was elected to city council again in 2005 and currently serves as mayor pro tem.

Kelly stayed very active in local public policy between city council terms, serving on the City’s Natural Resources Advisory Board, the first City Plan Citizens Committee, the Poudre Landmarks Foundation, the Office on Aging Advisory Board, and other committees. He recently received Etown’s E-chievement award, a national award, for more than 2 decades of work protecting open space and natural areas in Fort Collins and Larimer County.

Kelly has lived in the same house in west Fort Collins for 28 years. He is lucky to be married to Linda Stanley, a research scientist at Colorado State University. Together they enjoy nature, movies, garage sales, dining, and friends.