Mary Louise Nicholson

Sworn in as County Clerk on January 1, 2023, Mary Louise is serving her fourth term as an elected official. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Magna cum laude, from the University of Texas-Arlington.  Previously, she served eight years on Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson’s Command Staff. Prior to working with Tarrant County, Mary Louise was the owner of a public relations agency that served a variety of businesses, non-profit organizations, and political clients.

In 2013, then Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed Mary Louise to serve on the Texas County & District Retirement System (TCDRS) Board of Trustees. In January 2021, she was re-appointed to the board by Governor Greg Abbott. Mary Louise has served as Chairperson 2022, 2023 and currently 2024. TCDRS fund oversees the retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for the more than 247,000 county and district employees. She also serves on the County and District Clerk’s Association of Texas (CDCAT) Legislative Committee, Tarrant County’s Elections Commission, Tarrant County’s e-Gov Committee, and Tarrant County’s Bail Bond Board.

A lifelong Tarrant County resident, Mary Louise is married to Jeff Nicholson, a retired Peace Officer. She is most proud of her two daughters, Juliana, a licensed clinician at Cornell University and Gabriella, an attorney with Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP.