About Helen

Helen raised her family in San José, and she is dedicated to leading efforts and policies to preserve open space like Coyote Valley and finding ways to increase access to a healthy and equitable environment. Helen and her husband, Dan, raised two sons and enjoy spending time with their grandson. Helen’s commitment to civic engagement and local environmental issues led her to become a community leader.

Helen’s experience from serving as a City of San Jose Park Commissioner, Coyote Valley Task Force member, Green Foothills Board member, and Legislative Policy Advisor for Councilmember Jimenez, gives her the solid background needed to continue the work of the Open Space Authority mission to conserve land, connect people to nature, support agriculture, provide outdoor education, and sustain our natural resources.

In addition to her career and family, Helen has been a committed volunteer. Helen served as Commissioner with San José Parks & Recreation for six years, serving as Chair for three. Helen served on the Shasta Hanchett Park Neighborhood Association, a former board member with San José Parks Foundation, Green Foothills, San José Coyote Valley Task Force, and many other roles. 

She currently serves as Chair of the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and is excited to seek re-election to continue with the work of the agency for another 4 year term. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors, she is an alternate on the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFco) a state mandated independent local agency established to oversee the boundaries of cities and special districts in Santa Clara County. She serves as Vice-Chair on the Special District’s Association and is President of the Lincoln High School Foundation.

In 2020 Helen was selected as one of the Silicon Valley Business Journal’s Women of Influence. She was awarded the Women of the Year in 2017 by Assemblymember Evan Low in recognition of her community engagement. She also received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association’s Lula Briggs Galloway Working Women’s Award in 2010 as well as Mayor Susan Hammer’s Outstanding Women of Silicon Valley Award in 1996.  

Helen understands the needs of our community, and she has a long record of giving back to San José.  In Helen, you know you will have a director with a proven history of outstanding achievement and dedication to enhancing our community and our environment.

Paid for by Helen Chapman for Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority District 3 - 2024
FPPC# coming soon