In 1994, Kelso ran for the State Assembly against Democratic State Representative
Rosemary Hinkfuss. She defeated chiropractor Robert Menner in the Republican primary by a wide margin, and advanced to the general election against Hinkfuss. She defeated Hinkfuss by a wide margin, winning 56 percent of the vote. She was unopposed for re-election in 1996, and in 1998 was challenged by Democrat Lori Nelson. She defeated Nelson with 57 percent of the vote. She declined to run for re-election to a fourth term in 2000. Kelso was first elected to the
Wisconsin State Assembly in 1994 and served until 2001. In
2003, Kelso ran for
Brown County Executive. She ran against
Hobart Village President Len Teresinski and trucker Roy Leyendecker. In the primary election, Kelso placed first with 58 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Teresinski, who received 33 percent of the vote. She ultimately defeated Teresinski with 56 percent of the vote in the general election. Kelso declined to run for a second term as County Executive in
2007. ==References==