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Patrick Flaherty's Roots
Patrick Flaherty's family laid the foundation for his career as a non-profit leader who delivers results on what really matters: public safety, access to health care, civil rights, a secure job that pays the bills and neighborhood-friendly development.

Patrick's Dad was the only one of seven kids to go to college - thanks to a scholarship provided by his Dad's union, the IBEW. Patrick's electrician grandfather helped build the World Trade Center and his mom's mom worked as a public school teacher.

Patrick's Mom and Dad dedicated their lives to raising their large family of four boys and one girl, including Patrick and his twin brother, Kevin. They held fast to a solid set of values and fierce pride around their work and family.

Patrick's first job was as a dishwasher, followed by a stint designing and selling t-shirts on the East Side. His spare time with friends was spent at the Oriental and the Downer, or at the old Brewster's and Webster's. While a UWM student, he became politically active, helping organize Take Back the Night marches on the East Side and Riverwest in the early 1990's, and much more.

Patrick Responds To Our Needs
Early on, Patrick became active fighting the AIDS crisis. He sacrificed a position at Charles Schwab to raise awareness about AIDS, taking a position at the AIDS Resource Center of WI. Patrick helped coordinate the AIDS Walk, did fundraising, and eventually became their Operations Manager, with responsibility for nine offices and millions of dollars of funding.

To be sure, working at ARCW was not just a job. As with all his positions, Patrick took on personal responsibility for advancing the cause and volunteered off-the-clock to win policy changes at the City and State, which improved funding and increased accountability.

Whether it was helping organize Take Back the Night to improve neighborhood safety, or volunteering for clinic defense during that long hot summer of 1992, Patrick has a long record of putting himself on the line. These experiences taught him that government can make a difference in people's lives - but he also learned how frustrating it can be when government responds too slowly.

Patrick Flaherty Gets Results
Patrick has organized coalitions to win many reforms, passing the domestic partner registry and expanding health care to Milwaukee families. He's worked extensively with the City's block grant office, is experienced with zoning issues, and has secured state funding so Milwaukee gets its fair share to address health disparities right here in our neighborhoods.

His coalition-building skills have produced real results. That's why he is as well-known and respected in the offices of the Milwaukee County Labor Council as he is at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce. Patrick has won the admiration of local clergy as well as gay-rights groups. Bringing all these diverse groups together, Patrick has led efforts to make health insurance affordable and improve neighborhood services.

In 2001, Patrick founded Center Advocates, the equal rights arm of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, which won major improvements in the City's nondiscrimination rules. Most recently, Patrick co-founded Fair Wisconsin, which fought the discriminatory constitutional marriage amendment in 2006.

Patrick knows his way around City Hall. More importantly, he knows the East Side and Riverwest. He lives with his partner, Kurt, and their two dogs, Pork Chop and Comet, in their duplex just off Humboldt. Patrick handles hundreds of phone calls and emails every week in his current job. As a 14-year homeowner in the District, he knows that residents expect responsive services and is the best prepared and most energetic candidate for the 3rd District Common Council seat.