Michael Pilypaitis
Michael Pilypaitis ran for election to the Omaha City Council to represent District 3 in Nebraska. He lost in the general election on May 13, 2025.
Pilypaitis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Omaha, Nebraska (2025)
General election
General election for Omaha City Council District 3
Incumbent Danny Begley defeated Michael Pilypaitis in the general election for Omaha City Council District 3 on May 13, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Danny Begley (Nonpartisan) | 63.8 | 7,773 | |
 | Michael Pilypaitis (Nonpartisan)  | 35.5 | 4,323 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 80 | ||
| Total votes: 12,176 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Omaha City Council District 3
Incumbent Danny Begley and Michael Pilypaitis advanced from the primary for Omaha City Council District 3 on April 1, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Danny Begley (Nonpartisan) | 69.3 | 6,553 | |
| ✔ | | Michael Pilypaitis (Nonpartisan) | 29.8 | 2,823 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 84 | ||
| Total votes: 9,460 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Pilypaitis received the following endorsements.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Pilypaitis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pilypaitis' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My experience in advocacy and leadership has shown me the power of standing up for people who need a voice. Whether it’s in the workplace, in our neighborhoods, or at City Hall, I believe in solutions that put people first. I’m running for Omaha City Council because I know our city can do better when we focus on what truly matters—strong communities, reliable infrastructure, and a government that listens to and works for everyone.
I’m excited to bring my passion and experience to serve the people of Omaha. Together, we can build a city that works for all of us!- I want to invest in and fix our roads and public transit. Instead of dumping hundreds of millions of dollars into projects like the street car that work for a few, I'd like to fix our streets and expand bus routes to connect everyone to anywhere in the city they'd like to go, at a quick and affordable rate. Imagine where you could quick jump on a bus and go from Aksarben to 72nd and Dodge, or from either of those to Downtown, and have feeder routes along other main streets to connect houses in all these areas to the businesses people want to patronize and provide work. This is a winning solution for seniors, workers and businesses. Our city needs more accessibility and I know we can do it if we fight for it.
- Every child in Omaha deserves a strong start, but too many families struggle to afford preschool. Early education boosts success in school, careers, and life, yet access remains too expensive. Preschool for all is a smart investment, saving money long-term and strengthening our workforce. We can achieve this by expanding state and federal funding, fostering public-private partnerships, and supporting early educators. As your City Council representative, I’ll fight to ensure every child has access to quality preschool. A stronger Omaha starts with our youngest learners—let’s make it happen.
- Power and internet outages disrupt lives, businesses, and public safety. Many of these outages are preventable with proactive tree trimming. The city must take responsibility for regular maintenance to protect infrastructure and keep residents connected. By investing in a strategic trimming plan, Omaha can reduce storm-related outages, lower emergency repair costs, and improve reliability. As your City Council representative, I’ll push for city-led solutions that prevent problems before they happen—because keeping Omaha powered and connected should be a priority.
Expanding affordable housing also helps address homelessness, especially for veterans who have served our country but struggle to find stable housing. By prioritizing smart growth, fair incentives, and community-driven planning, we can build a city where everyone has a place to call home. As your City Council representative, I’ll fight for policies that put people and neighborhoods first.
What makes the city council particularly important is its proximity to the people it serves. Council members are directly accountable to their constituents and are positioned to address local concerns and challenges in real time. They have the power to propose, amend, and pass ordinances that impact everything from zoning laws to public health initiatives. Their decisions can transform neighborhoods, influence economic growth, and improve the quality of life for residents.
Unlike higher levels of government, the city council operates on a more localized scale, giving members the opportunity to make meaningful, immediate changes. This closeness to the community allows for a more responsive and accessible government, where citizens can engage directly with their representatives to voice concerns and shape policy.
This story teaches us that the fight for equality isn’t over once we achieve it. Power can be framed in many ways, but it’s easy for some to rise above others if we’re not careful. The famous line, "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others," shows how ideals of fairness can be betrayed.
Good leadership means keeping an open mind—being willing to learn, adapt, and find real solutions rather than sticking to the status quo. It means standing up for working families, protecting taxpayers, and making sure no one falls through the cracks. We need leaders who will fight for affordability in housing, utilities, and transportation—because when Omaha is livable for everyone, our whole community thrives.
Leadership isn’t about taking the easy path; it’s about doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. That means standing up for working families, fighting wasteful spending, and making sure developments benefit the entire community—not just a few at the top. It means listening to residents, seeking expert input, and making choices that strengthen our neighborhoods for the long haul.
Additionally, the council oversees public safety funding, plays a role in approving tax increases and fees, and holds public hearings for citizen input. They also manage intergovernmental relations, advocating for Omaha’s needs at the state and federal levels. These responsibilities may not always be visible but are crucial in shaping Omaha’s policies, development, and accountability to residents. Increased awareness can foster more community engagement and ensure the council works effectively for all.
Having a diverse range of experiences, including leadership in other fields, can bring important skills like problem-solving, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. Ultimately, what’s most important is the ability to listen to constituents, make decisions based on the best interests of the community, and hold the government accountable to the people it serves. Experience can help, but it’s not the only path to being an effective council member.
Honesty is vital in building trust with the public, ensuring transparency in decision-making, and holding the government accountable. Empathy allows council members to relate to the struggles and hopes of residents, making it easier to prioritize policies that truly benefit the community.
No eye deer.
What do you call a deer with no eyes and no legs?
Governments should provide clear, accessible records of all financial activities, including spending on programs, projects, and services. This allows voters to hold their leaders accountable and ensures that public resources are being used to address the needs of the community, rather than wasted or misallocated.
Equally important is holding government officials accountable at every level. Elected officials must answer to the voters who put them in office, and it is our responsibility as citizens to demand that they are transparent, responsible, and answerable for their decisions. Transparency fosters trust, and accountability ensures that those in power remain focused on serving the people, not their own interests.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
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