David Robert Nelson (born May 22, 1942) is an American politician who served as a State Representative and Sheriff of Bristol County, Massachusetts.

[1] In 1983, Nelson was appointed Bristol County Sheriff by Governor Michael Dukakis following the resignation of Edward Dabrowski.

He was elected to finish Dabrowski's term in 1984 by winning a five-way Democratic primary.

He was elected unopposed to a full term in 1986 and won the 1992 Democratic primary with 62% of the vote.

[2] Nelson resigned in 1997 and was succeeded by his Assistant Deputy Superintendent Thomas Hodgson.