Mike Nickel

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Mike Nickel is a politician in Alberta, Canada and a former municipal councillor in Edmonton.

Nickel was born in Edmonton and attended the University of Alberta, earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Master's degree in Statistics and Media Studies.^[1] During his time at university, Nickel served as President of the University of Alberta Students' Union from 1985 to 1986 and was active in the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.^[2]

In 1995, Nickel was a founding member of the Edmonton Stickmen, a group of young businessmen who were critical of then-mayor Jan Reimer for what they saw as anti-business policies.^[3] Reimer was defeated in that election by Bill Smith, against whom Nickel ran unsuccessfully in the 1998 and 2001 municipal elections, finishing second and third respectively.^[4]^[5]

In 2004, Nickel was elected to Edmonton's city council from Ward 5.^[6] On City Council, he developed a reputation for opposing tax increases, Councilor pay increases, and a wide variety of regulation that he saw as interfering with the ability of businesspeople to make a living.^[7]^[8] He sought a second term in the 2007 election, but was defeated by Don Iveson and finished third of four candidates.^[9]