Director Nelson is also Mayor of the City of Fullerton and was first elected to the city council in November 2002.

An attorney by profession, Director Nelson is the managing partner in the Santa Ana law firm of Rizio and Nelson, a 10-lawyer firm. Director Nelson is a civil litigator and represents small business owners and individuals in a variety of legal matters.

Active in the community, Director Nelson is a member of the Fullerton Elks Lodge, the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Bar Association, and Zion Lutheran Church, and is a "Soccer Dad" for the Fullerton Rangers.

Director Nelson is a native Californian, born in Lynwood and raised in the local community. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from USC, and a Juris Doctorate from Western State University College of Law. He has also studied economics at Harvard University.

Director Nelson and his wife Sharon live in Fullerton and have three children, Kathryn, Shane and Amanda.