222:, including the offering of health benefits to domestic partners of town employees. 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 and the first openly gay mayor in North Carolina. In 1997 he and the aldermen agreed to purchase the building of the former Carrboro Baptist Church, which was subsequently turned into town offices and an events center. The following year the town created a
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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.
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In 1987 Nelson managed Joe
Herzenberg's successful campaign for election to the Chapel Hill Town Council. He then decided to start his own political career in the nearby town of
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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
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his sophomore year. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in political science and eventually became a production manager for a clothing manufacturing company in
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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
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533:"Nine Current and Former Mayors of Chapel Hill, Carrboro Issue Letter Supporting Durham-Orange Light Rail"
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In 1993 he again sought election to the
Carrboro Board of Aldermen and won with backing from the
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Board of
Commissioners. In 2007 he registered as a candidate for a seat in the
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218:. During his tenure convinced the board to pass two measures to recognize
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299:"Young mayor mirrors Carrboro's diversity, wants 'hipper' image"
454:"Becoming a Leader : Mike Nelson, and a Town, Come of Age"
478:"The Carrboro Scene : Building a Reputation in the Arts"
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Helvey, Jackie; Lester, Margot
Carmichael (April 2011).
191:, and in 1989 he sought election to the town's board of
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committee, with Nelson serving as a founding member.
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North
Carolina Pride PAC for Lesbian and Gay Equality
669:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni
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142:from 2006 to 2009. Nelson, who is a co-founder of
207:which lobbied for the repeal of North Carolina's
130:is an American politician who served as Mayor of
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167:and his mother was a teacher. He attended the
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428:"Nelson won't run for re-election in Orange"
66:December 5, 1995 – December 6, 2005
644:LGBTQ mayors of places in the United States
489:(Carrboro Centennial ed.). p. 31.
465:(Carrboro Centennial ed.). p. 13.
360:"Michael R. Nelson Papers, circa 1890-2012"
169:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
116:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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412:. Vol. 103, no. 106. p. 1.
406:"Gays Applaud Nelson's Landmark Election"
664:People from Jacksonville, North Carolina
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634:County commissioners in North Carolina
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358:Lucas, Dawne Howard (December 2022).
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163:. His father was an attorney for the
561:Otto, Dave; Ellington, Dave (2015).
512:Millen, Lainey (November 18, 2006).
404:Podlogar, Alex (November 10, 1995).
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332:Wallsten, Pete (December 6, 1995).
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654:Mayors of places in North Carolina
426:Schwartz, Joe (October 13, 2009).
364:Wilson Special Collections Library
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334:"His honor, the openly gay mayor"
649:LGBTQ people from North Carolina
385:Wildman, Sarah (June 20, 2000).
243:Durham–Orange Light Rail Transit
531:Hodge, Blake (April 20, 2017).
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297:Mraz, Steve (August 24, 1998).
235:North Carolina General Assembly
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216:Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
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476:Helvey, Jackie (April 2011).
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161:Jacksonville, North Carolina
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514:"North Carolina News Notes"
387:"Winning the ballot battle"
134:from 1995 to 2005 and as a
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366:. UNC University Libraries
205:political action committee
199:and thereafter co-founded
165:United States Marine Corps
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303:Triangle Business Journal
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659:North Carolina Democrats
639:American gay politicians
270:Carrboro, North Carolina
132:Carrboro, North Carolina
159:Mike Nelson grew up in
146:, was the first openly
144:Equality North Carolina
567:. Arcadia Publishing.
263:"AGENDA - 12_06_2005"
220:domestic partnerships
136:county commissioner
588:Political offices
410:The Daily Tar Heel
393:. pp. 90, 93.
224:FĂŞte de la Musique
171:, and came out as
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610:Succeeded by
603:Mayor of Carrboro
128:Michael R. Nelson
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53:Mayor of Carrboro
23:Michael R. Nelson
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593:Preceded by
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183:Political career
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97:Personal details
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16:US politician
612:Mark Chilton
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540:. Retrieved
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88:Mark Chilton
84:Succeeded by
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36:Commissioner
555:Works cited
542:February 1,
437:February 1,
343:February 1,
308:February 1,
177:Chapel Hill
72:Preceded by
623:Categories
607:1995–2005
537:Chapelboro
275:19 January
268:. Town of
249:References
155:Early life
432:Indy Week
245:project.
112:Education
62:In office
47:2006–2009
43:In office
564:Carrboro
193:aldermen
189:Carrboro
518:Q-notes
370:May 10,
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481:(PDF)
457:(PDF)
266:(PDF)
569:ISBN
544:2022
439:2022
372:2023
345:2022
310:2022
277:2024
203:, a
138:for
173:gay
148:gay
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