Mike Nelson (politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael R. "Mike" Nelson is an American
politician from North Carolina
.
A Democrat
, Nelson is a former mayor
of Carrboro, North Carolina
and the first openly
gay
person to be elected as a mayor of a North Carolina city. Nelson was elected in 1995 after serving two years on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. He served five consecutive terms as mayor from 1995 to 2005. He has since moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina
.
In November 2006, Nelson was elected to serve a four year term on the Orange County
Board of Commissioners. In 2007, he announced his intention to run for the North Carolina Senate
in 2008, seeking to replace retiring Sen. Ellie Kinnaird in the reliably-Democratic 23rd district, which contains Orange and Person
counties. When Kinnaird changed her mind and decided to run for re-election, Nelson suspended his own campaign.
Nelson worked as the Director of Governmental Relations for the Conservation Council of North Carolina, an environmental advocacy group. In May 2008, he began appearing in television commercials in which supported moving freight by train
over truck travel. Currently, Nelson is working as a Field Service Coordinator with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Nelson has a bachelor's degree
in political science
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Nelson is a former mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro, North Carolina
Carrboro is a town in Orange County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 19,582 at the 2010 census. The town, which is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill metropolitan statistical area, was named after North Carolina industrialist Julian Shakespeare Carr.Located near Chapel Hill and...
and the first openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
person to be elected as a mayor of a North Carolina city. Nelson was elected in 1995 after serving two years on the Carrboro Board of Aldermen. He served five consecutive terms as mayor from 1995 to 2005. He has since moved to Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
.
In November 2006, Nelson was elected to serve a four year term on the Orange County
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
Board of Commissioners. In 2007, he announced his intention to run for the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
in 2008, seeking to replace retiring Sen. Ellie Kinnaird in the reliably-Democratic 23rd district, which contains Orange and Person
Person County, North Carolina
Person County is a county located in the Piedmont region in north-central North Carolina in the United States. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area. The population was 39,464 at the 2010 census.The county seat is Roxboro...
counties. When Kinnaird changed her mind and decided to run for re-election, Nelson suspended his own campaign.
Nelson worked as the Director of Governmental Relations for the Conservation Council of North Carolina, an environmental advocacy group. In May 2008, he began appearing in television commercials in which supported moving freight by train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
over truck travel. Currently, Nelson is working as a Field Service Coordinator with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Nelson has a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
.
See also
- List of aldermen of Carrboro, North Carolina
- List of mayors of Carrboro, North Carolina
- List of commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina