LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson was born and raised in Louisville and says his belief in the city’s potential is the reason he’s running for mayor. 

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville native David Nicholson is one of eight candidates on the ballot for the Louisville Democratic Mayoral Primary on Tuesday, May 17

  • He has been Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk since 2007

  • Nicholson says public safety is his number one priority

  • He wants to bring back collaboration in politics

He says, “this is not a stepping stone. This is truly done out of a commitment and a love of Louisville, Kentucky and wanting to restore our prominence on the national and international level. We have always been highly regarded, highly respected and we must restore that standing.”

Nicholson graduated from Ballard High School before attending college and law school out of state. He came back to his hometown to work for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, then the county’s Criminal Justice Commission. In 2006, he was elected as Circuit Court Clerk, a position he’s held for the last 15 years.

He says his background makes him uniquely qualified to run the city, explaining, “it’s about experience, and experience in government. I’ve had the distinct honor over several years to work in all three branches of government, the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branch. To bring all three branches of government together with true experience, I think it’s unheard of, for a mayor.”

Nicholson believes the most important job for Louisville’s next leader is keeping the city safe, saying, “the number one priority on day one we announced was public safety. I cannot grow economic development, we cannot tackle affordable housing, the homeless until we address public safety. So on day one, I said we will have a neighborhood-based policing model.”

In addition, he wants to start an Office of Victim Services and create the position of a civilian police commissioner, acting as a COO with the Police Chief as CEO. He says he expects the two to work together, saying, “the police chief will run the police department, the day-to-day operation, be the administrative head of the police department. This civilian police commissioner will be working within the community, within our neighborhoods. Clearly articulating the vision.”

Nicholson says in the current combative political climate, he wants to change the tone and be collaborative. He points out that, “it’s my responsibility to bring about good conversations, deep conversations. You go in with — can’t we strive to move towards consensus? And in order to do that, you have to listen, you have to learn and then you have to lead.”

Kentucky’s primary elections are Tuesday, May 17. Louisville hasn’t had a Republican mayor since 1969, so it will favor the winner of the Democratic primary to win the general election in November. Nicholson hopes it will be him.