Council Member Shawn Nelson was elected to the Fullerton City Council in November 2002 to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term, and was reelected to a four-year term in November 2004. He served as Mayor in 2004-05 and 2006-07, and as Mayor Pro Tem in 2003-04.

A native Californian, Council Member Nelson was born in Lynwood and raised in Fullerton.The Sunny Hills High School graduate 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.

An attorney by profession, Council Member Nelson is the managing partner in the Santa Ana law firm of Rizio and Nelson. Mayor Nelson is a civil litigator and represents small business owners and individuals in a variety of legal matters. He also sits as an arbitrator for the Orange County Bar Association.

Council Member Nelson served six years as the City's representative to the Board of Directors of the Orange County Water District.

Active in the community, Council Member Nelson is a member of the Fullerton Elks Lodge, and the Orange County Bar Association. He is actively involved as a member of Zion Lutheran Church, is a sponsor and "Soccer Dad" for the Fullerton Rangers youth soccer club, and is head coach and a parent sponsor for Fullerton Pop Warner Football's Mighty Might Team.

Council Member Nelson was named the "Local Elected Official for 2009" by the Orange County Republican Party.

Council Member Nelson and his wife, Sharon, have three children: Kathryn, 10, Shane, 9, and Amanda, 6.