DJ Nichols for City Council

04/11/2026

My views on responsible use of tools and technology in policing.

Guest view: Flock cameras are a proven policing tool and Oshkosh has guardrails like accreditation, audits and logged access to keep them accountable.

04/04/2026

Outgoing Oshkosh council member DJ Nichols reflects on a final, nine-hour meeting and why local government — and showing up — matters.

02/17/2026

It’s Election Day.

Local government shapes our daily lives, from safe streets and responsible growth to how your tax dollars are spent. These decisions happen close to home, and they matter.

If you live in Oshkosh, please vote today. Local races are often decided by just a handful of ballots.

I’m proud to support Jacob Amos, Logan Jungbacker for Oshkosh City Council, and Meredith Scheuermann, I believe they’ll bring thoughtful leadership and practical decision-making to our community.

🗳️ Polls are open 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM.
Find your polling place here: https://myvote.wi.gov

No matter who you support, show up. Oshkosh is strongest when we participate.

My Vote

01/24/2026

Elections have consequences. Paying attention matters.

We can disagree about immigration policy. What we cannot excuse is this: ICE does not belong in our cities, and federal agents do not get to use lethal force against unarmed protesters.

Silence is how abuses of power metastasize.

Staying engaged, demanding accountability, and defending civil liberties isn’t optional. It’s the price of a functioning democracy.

Pretti’s killing is the second fatal shooting of a U.S. citizen by federal officers in Minneapolis in less than three weeks.

12/29/2025

Really honored to be named one of Oshkosh’s People of the Year by the Oshkosh Northwestern.

I love this city and care deeply about where we’re headed. Grateful to be part of a community with so many people doing good work every day. 💙

12/12/2025

I want to share this with some context up front.

The figures on this bill reflect a home value that is higher than many others in Oshkosh — and I know that will draw reactions. I’m sharing it anyway because this is a public record, and because conversations about affordability are more meaningful when they’re grounded in real numbers rather than headlines or assumptions.

When I talk with residents, the pressures I hear about most aren’t abstract budget lines — they’re gas, groceries, childcare, utilities, and everyday costs that keep creeping up. At the same time, the cost for government to provide basic services continues to rise as well — police and fire protection, street maintenance and snow removal, parks and recreation, clean water, and core infrastructure.

This is just one example, not a template. Outcomes vary widely based on assessments and a lot of other factors. But it does reflect the quieter, coordinated work the City — along with the school district, county, and the tech — is doing to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, slow cost growth, and reduce pressure where possible, even as service demands and costs continue to increase.

One thing worth noting on the bill itself is the higher amount coming from the State this year. Increased state support — including additional Municipal Services Payments (MSP) — shows up directly in those lines and helps reduce the amount that has to be raised locally through property taxes.

I’m sharing this not as a council member, but as a resident. I live here. I pay the same bills. I’m affected by these decisions just like everyone else — even if I also happen to serve on the City Council.

I’d encourage everyone to take a look at their own 2025 and 2024 property tax bills side by side. The goal of this year’s budget was to continue providing more — and higher-quality — services, while showing restraint and delivering real relief where we could. For many property owners, that shows up as a smaller bill.

12/08/2025

I always try to respond when residents reach out - especially when they’re clearly asking for my thoughts rather than just voicing an opinion.

We’ve only handled, you know, hundreds of major decisions over the last 18 months… but I guess some topics just inspire a little extra enthusiasm.

Sharing the screenshots because… well, you’ll see.

Congratulations to Jacob for his appointment to Council. Excited to have voted for him and to serve with him.

12/02/2025

Thank you, Oshkosh, for two years of progress and purpose. If you’ve ever considered serving, this is your time to jump in. 💙

07/20/2025

Everyone deserves the chance to build a life — and that starts with having a place to live.

At our July 8 meeting, Council began the process of updating our fair housing ordinance to make renting more fair and more accessible — including looking at policies that give people a real second chance.

Housing is opportunity. It’s stability. And it’s time we treat it that way.

We’re not done yet — but we’re asking the right questions and taking steps to move Oshkosh forward.

Thank you Kris for Osh for starting this conversation at Council and ESTHER-Fox Valley for being tireless advocates for housing justice in our community.

07/10/2025

A local sales tax in Oshkosh wouldn’t touch gas, groceries, or prescriptions—but it would give us a shot at lowering property taxes and making visitors pay their fair share.

Right now, Oshkosh residents are footing the bill alone for the streets, parks, and emergency services that thousands of non-residents use every day.

My ask is simple: let us consider a local option. The Council passed a resolution 6-1 asking the state for permission to explore a 0.5% sales tax. From there, we’d study the impact, do public outreach, and vote again before anything could be implemented.

We’re not adding a tax—we’re asking for the chance to decide.

07/09/2025