Richard loved growing up in Mandeville. His father worked for the federal government and his mother was a teacher at their church preschool. As an Eagle Scout, Richard spent a lot of time fighting mosquitos in the woods of south Louisiana. He was valedictorian of Mandeville High and voted most likely to succeed. Richard earned a degree in Biological Engineering from LSU before attending LSU Law School. He graduated at the top of his class in both. 

Richard met his wife Ashley, a Shreveport native, while they were both at LSU. After graduating from law school, he was selected for the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State and moved to Washington. He served all over the world for seven years as a State Department Officer and diplomat, protecting American embassies overseas from terrorism and espionage. Richard and his family lived in Washington, D.C., Germany, and the Former Soviet Republic of Georgia.

Just months before their next overseas assignment, Richard had the opportunity to move his family home to Mandeville. He was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2019. In the Legislature, Richard has championed major policy changes, most notably the elimination of the income tax and improving literacy for elementary students. He has been an advocate for keeping tax dollars in local communities rather than concentrating them in Baton Rouge. Nelson is also known for his bipartisanship and working for sound policy rather than political party.

Richard is an engineer, attorney, and runs his own consulting firm. He and his family attend Christ Episcopal Church in Covington. Richard is committed to improving the opportunity for his three sons, Michael, 8, Arthur, 7, and Jack, 4, and for all the citizens of this great state.