Douglas J. Nicholls is the 27^th Mayor of the City of Yuma, Arizona. Elected to service of the Yuma community as Mayor in 2014 and recently re-elected to a third term beginning January 2023. Mayor Nicholls previously served as a councilmember in 2009. He is committed to the residents of the greater Yuma area through the core belief that quality communities open doors for all residents to success through quality jobs, superior education and a robust quality of life.

Mayor Nicholls spearheads many efforts to enhance and grow the Yuma community, including serving as the Founder and Chairman of 4FrontED’s Governing Board. The 4FrontED effort is an economic development-focused board of regional mayors and leaders from the region that includes the four states on the U.S.-Mexico border, Arizona, California, Sonora, and Baja California. Together, they work collaboratively to maximize impact at the global forefront, representing a population of nearly two million people.

 His vision to enhance accessibility to higher education culminates in plans for the Innovation District in the greater Yuma area. Mayor Nicholls served as Chairman of the Governing Board, which includes multi-disciplinary leaders throughout the community who are working to develop innovation and higher education opportunities in the Yuma Region. The effort relies upon vertical coordination with industry, education at all levels, and the greater community to provide opportunities to include higher education and innovation environment.

Mayor Nicholls serves as President of the Arizona League of Cities and Towns organization of all ninety-one cities and towns in the state of Arizona. In 2021, he was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Local Government Advisory Council, is one of 39 selected members, and is the only member from Arizona. Mayor Nicholls serves on many boards to include the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and Amberly’s Place. He is the previous President of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation.

In 2019, he was inducted into the Arizona State University (ASU) Academy of Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame for the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment.

Mayor Nicholls was raised in Yuma, Arizona. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Degree from Arizona State University (ASU) with an emphasis in Civil Engineering, before continuing post-baccalaureate studies in transportation engineering. In addition to his role as Mayor of Yuma, he is President and Owner of Core Engineering Group, an ordained deacon at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, an active Rotarian, and a dedicated husband and father of four children.