About Nikylan

Greetings! I was elected to my first term as mayor of Maplewood in 2021. A dedicated public servant, I came to city hall after serving on the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District school board, an experience that deepened my resolve to address Maplewood’s most pressing issues: advancing racial and gender equity, addressing housing affordability, supporting seniors, broadening public safety measures, and strengthening local businesses. My resounding win in 2021 confirmed that Maplewood residents value progressive, inclusive leadership. 

My family and I moved to Maplewood in 2018. My children attend MRH schools, where I have been an active volunteer for the PTO. Among my accomplishments was bringing Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the MRH Early Childhood Center. Students who join the program receive a free book every month until they reach age 5, which supports emerging literacy skills and enhances kindergarten readiness. I also volunteered as a coach for MRH Youth Sports and as a den leader for the local Cub Scout Pack.

During my time on the MRH school board, the board drafted and unanimously passed an educational equity policy, as well as a policy to protect transgender and non-binary students. The board also worked strenuously to keep MRH students, staff, and families safe during the global pandemic, and to shepherd a generational leadership change in the district that has resulted in greater focus on student achievement and mental health support. My leadership as mayor has led to a restored partnership between the city and the school district.

I am a licensed attorney and a federal administrative law judge. My legal training compels me to think analytically and find multiple solutions to problems. Over the span of my career, I have protected clients’ Constitutional rights as an assistant public defender. Working as a legal aid attorney, I ensured consumer and legal protections from domestic violence for all regardless of socioeconomic status. In my work as a bankruptcy attorney, I secured relief for people suffering from financial stress while also ensuring they learned how to balance their budgets. I have been a litigator and argued cases before judges and juries. In my current role with the USDA, I ensure all parties before me receive face-to-face fairness.

My accomplishments during my first three-year term as mayor have driven me to seek re-election in the April 2, 2024 municipal election. I could not have accomplished so much without you and your support. Please continue that support by signing up to volunteer for my campaign and making a contribution. We all want more for Maplewood, and together, we can make it happen!