Helen Klanderud

Helen Kalin Klanderud (June 9, 1937 – October 3, 2013) was an American politician, clinical social worker and attorney. In 1980, Klanderud was elected to the Pitkin County, Colorado, Board of County Commissioners, becoming the first woman to serve as a county commissioner. She later served as the Mayor of Aspen, Colorado, for three-consecutive terms from 2001 to 2007.

Biography Early life and career Klanderud was born on June 9, 1937, in Kansas City, Missouri, in a home and shelter for single mothers.

In 1971, she left her job with the Fort Logan Mental Health Center, and moved from Denver to Aspen, Colorado, with her four children shortly after a divorce from her husband.

In 1986, Klanderud ran for the Colorado State Senate, but lost the close election by approximately 500 votes. The development, which had been approved by voters in 2000, would have been the largest affordable housing complex ever constructed in Aspen. In 2003, on behalf of the City of Aspen, she signed the U.S. Mayors' Statement on Global Warming. In 2004, the city supported the Declaration of Energy Independence. In 2005, Mayor Klanderud signed the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. In 2005, the City of Aspen also joined the Chicago Climate Exchange and made a legally-binding commitment to reduce its GHGs (government operations only) by 1% per year. By the end of 2006, the city had reduced its emissions by 11.5% below 2005 levels. For "addressing climate change by committing to a clean energy future", the World Wildlife Fund awarded Aspen the 2005 Power Switch! Pioneer award. Aspen was the smallest municipality to be invited to the three-day summit, which included major U.S. cities like Seattle and Chicago. Emphasizing the importance of local and individual action, she said of the Alaska meeting, "It's about mayors taking leadership because of the failure of the federal government to join the Kyoto Protocol." She also served on the Climate Action Panel for the Colorado Climate Project. On behalf of the city of Aspen, Mayor Klanderud accepted the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Achievement Award, in 2007.

Later life Kaluderud had automatically become a member of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association board of directors as mayor.

A community service award has been created in her name as part of the Pitkin Country Cares Award program.