Nicholas Gothard

Nick was raised by two working parents in Ashburn, where he grew up supported by free lunch and the CASA programs provided by Loudoun County Public Schools. In elementary school, Nick’s future was bolstered by the special education department when a school speech-language pathologist helped him overcome a speaking disorder. At the age of 17, he attended his first School Board meeting to advocate for LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections for Loudoun County Public Schools students and staff and has advocated for policies that uplift our communities ever since.

A community organizer and human rights advocate, Nick has worked to engage communities head-on, whether that was organizing vaccine clinics under the Virginia Department of Health or advising Loudoun’s Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Developmental Services (MDSADS) on policy and community engagement strategies. He currently serves as Chief of Staff to Leesburg Vice Mayor Fernando Martinez and owns a small business, working as a nonprofit and political consultant for organizations across the United States.

Nick is an active member of the Loudoun community, where he resides with his partner. He serves on the Board of Directors of Equality Loudoun, Loudoun’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ nonprofit, and was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve on the Loudoun County Community Services Board, where he works collaboratively to help Loudoun provide services for people of all ages who have mental illness, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities.