A 41 year resident, Jonathan graduated Parsippany High School in 1986 and earned his BA degree from the University of Maryland, College Park. A small business owner for two decades, Councilman Nelson owned and operated two restaurants in Parsippany. He is a member of the Parsippany Kiwanis, a patron member of MOMA, and a past member of Adath Shalom synagogue. Councilman Nelson is currently on the community outreach board at the Stickley Museum at Craftman Farms as well being the Council Liaison to the Parsippany Day Care Center, the Historic Preservation Committee, and the Municipal Government Transparency Committee. Jonathan currently lives in the Powder Mill section of Parsippany.