Michael R. Nelson

Michael R. Nelson is an American politician who served as Mayor of Carrboro, North Carolina from 1995 to 2005 and as a county commissioner for Orange County from 2006 to 2009. Nelson, who is a co-founder of Equality North Carolina, was the first openly gay mayor in North Carolina. At the time of his inauguration, he was one of five openly gay mayors in the United States. When he left his mayoral office in 2005, he was the longest-serving mayor in Carrboro's history.

Early life Mike Nelson grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina. His father was an attorney for the United States Marine Corps and his mother was a teacher. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, He graduated in 1989 with a degree in political science and eventually became a production manager for a clothing manufacturing company in Chapel Hill. He then decided to start his own political career in the nearby town of Carrboro, and in 1989 he sought election to the town's board of aldermen, losing by 30 votes. In 1995 he sought election as Mayor of Carrboro, downplaying his sexuality and focusing on environmental issues, development, and taxation. He defeated two other candidates in the November election, earning almost 50 percent of the votes. Nelson was seated as Mayor on December 5, 1995. His inauguration made him one of five openly gay mayors in the United States at the time The following year the town created a Fête de la Musique committee, with Nelson serving as a founding member.

Nelson left office in 2005, departing as the longest-serving mayor in Carrboro's history. The following year he was elected to a seat on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. In 2007 he registered as a candidate for a seat in the North Carolina General Assembly, but withdrew when incumbent Eleanor Kinnaird announced her intention to seek re-election. In 2009 he announced his decision to not seek reelection to the county commission. In 2017 he signed an open letter endorsing the Durham–Orange Light Rail Transit project.