Young Ideas, Backed by Experience
Michael J. Nicholson is a lifelong resident of Gardner, Massachusetts, and was sworn in as the 20th Mayor of the City of Gardner in July of 2020. The son of James and Martha Nicholson, he is a proud graduate of Gardner high School. While still in High School, Mayor Nicholson began interning for then-Mayor Mark Hawke, which kindled his interest in local government. He went on to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, earning two bachelors degrees in History and Political Science, and then obtaining a Master’s of Public Policy Degree. He obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from Suffolk University Law School’s evening Program in May of 2021.
After graduating from his Master’s Degree, Mayor Nicholson served as Mayor Hawke’s Executive Aide (Chief of Staff equivalent) for three years, before leaving to become the Town Administrator for the Town of Rutland, Massachusetts. In this role, he worked to help improve the Town’s economic development efforts through the sale of the Rutland Heights property.
Nicholson was elected Mayor officially on June 30th, 2020 and was sworn into office on July 13th. Originally elected at 25 years old, he is the third youngest mayor in the City’s history and is the City’s first Hispanic/Latino elected official. In his capacity as mayor, he also serves as the Chair of the Gardner School Committee.
During his tenure in office, Mayor Nicholson has overseen the groundbreaking of the City’s first elementary school to be constructed in over 100 years, invested more in the City’s infrastructure than before in the City’s history, created new band and art programs in the City’s school system, and helped increase the City’s prevention efforts related to the opioid epidemic. A proud American of Nicaraguan descent, Nicholson has also worked to try to increase the City’s outreach into the City’s growing Hispanic/Latinx population.
We invite you to please check the other pages of this website for further information on the accomplishments Mayor Nicholson has had in office so far.