Norris J. Nelson (January 31, 1905 – April 3, 1995) was an American politician who served as a member of the Los Angeles City Council from 1939 to 1943. Biography Nelson, the son of Chris Nelson of Norway and Regina Nelson of Minnesota, was born on January 31, 1905, in Bayfield, Wisconsin. He was married on October 2 or 22, 1922, to Adele M. or Edel Marie Nicolaysen of Wisconsin. They had one child, Norris Jerome Jr. The elder Nelson was sued for divorce in 1941, but a reconcilement was effected in 1942, the same year that Nelson joined the Army. He attended a Civil Affairs Training School at Yale and saw service in Scotland and Norway. "His last duty was the disposition of approximately 100,000 persons sent by the Germans into Norway as slave labor." The Nelsons finally separated in April 1946, and a divorce trial opened in September 1948. Norwegian actress Asta Bertels was mentioned in the testimony, Nelson relating that he brought her from Norway the same month, April 1946, that he separated from his wife and that he was acting as her agent in furthering a Hollywood career; she signed a contract with showgirl impresario Earl Carroll. Superior Judge William J. Palmer granted the divorce to Mrs. Nelson, calling the broken marriage "a wartime casualty." Nelson moved to California in 1926. His residence address was 6306 Ivarene, Hollywood. He was a Presbyterian and a Republican. He died on April 3, 1995, in Maricopa, Arizona. City Council Elections Nelson ran for the Los Angeles City Council District 2 seat in 1937 against the incumbent, James M. Hyde, and was defeated in a close vote, 9,161 to 8,981. In 1939, though, he defeated Hyde easily in the primary election, with no run-off needed, 9,632 to 4,287. In that year Hyde was said to be the victim of a "purge" of the City Council directed by Mayor Fletcher Bowron. He was reelected in 1941 but decided against running again in 1943 in favor of joining the armed forces. Geography In that era, the 2nd District was generally bounded on the north by the Hollywood Hills, south by Melrose Avenue, east by the 1st Councilmanic District and west by Beverly Glen Boulevard. It also included Griffith Park. Controversies Government. Nelson joined Council Member Arthur E. Briggs in 1939 in proposing a combined city-county government with a borough system for Los