Patrick and Chris sit down with long time city council member from District 5, Kelly Ohlson.

Kelly Ohlson is a long-serving Fort Collins, Colorado, City Council member representing District 5, which covers the west-central part of the city. A resident since 1973, when he moved to attend graduate school at Colorado State University, Ohlson has deep roots in the community. He holds a degree in Wildlife Biology from Iowa State University and a master’s in education from CSU. Over his career, he’s been a public school teacher, historic building renovator, and a three-term Larimer County Public Trustee appointed by the governor. Ohlson’s political tenure includes serving as Fort Collins mayor in the mid-1980s, mayor pro tem for four terms, and council member across multiple stints (1983-1987, 2005-2013, and elected again in 2021). Renowned for his conservation efforts, he’s led eight campaigns to protect over 75,000 acres of open space and natural areas in Fort Collins and Larimer County, earning him the inaugural Kelly Ohlson Natural Areas Conservation Award in 2022. Married to Linda Stanley, a CSU senior research scientist, Ohlson is known for his pragmatic, compassionate leadership and commitment to public service, though he announced in November 2024 that he won’t seek reelection when his current term ends in 2025.