Thomas Flynn

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Thomas Flynn

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Personal

Birthplace

Omaha, Neb.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Douglas County Sheriff deputy

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Thomas Flynn (Republican Party) ran for election for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court in Nebraska. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Flynn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Thomas Flynn was born in Omaha, Nebraska. His career experience includes working as a deputy for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office. He has been trained as a hostage negotiator and in crisis intervention. Flynn has been affiliated with the Fraternal Order of police lodge #2, the International Association of Hostage Negotiators, and the Institute for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths.

Flynn has received the following awards:

• Douglas County deputy of the year, 2007
• Douglas County deputy of the year, 2011
• Medal of Honor, 2011
• Medal of Valor, 2007
• Purple Heart, 2011
• Nebraska Sheriff's Association Deputy of the Year, 2011

Elections

2022

See also: Municipal elections in Douglas County, Nebraska (2022)

General election

General election for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court

Crystal Rhoades defeated Thomas Flynn in the general election for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Crystal Rhoades (D)	51.0	94,346
		Thomas Flynn (R)	48.9	90,502
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	195

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 185,043
= 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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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court

Crystal Rhoades defeated Pamela Cardenas in the Democratic primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court on May 10, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Crystal Rhoades	65.2	26,631
	Submit photo	Pamela Cardenas	34.5	14,103
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	113

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,847
= 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.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Thomas Flynn advanced from the Republican primary for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Thomas Flynn completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Flynn's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Flynn was born in Omaha and raised in a strong Catholic family of 10 kids. Flynn graduated from Omaha Creighton Prep High School in 1990 and attended Metro Community College and University of Nebraska at Omaha until being hired by the Douglas County Sheriff's office in 1995. Flynn is a highly decorated deputy who has served the citizens of Douglas County for the last 27 years. Flynn has been married to his wife, Jill, for 13 years. Together they raise 4 children and are active in the community. Flynn will bring his years of experience and dedicated service to the Clerk's Office.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Flynn has nearly 30 years of experience of putting a large number of the clerk's office responsibilities into actual action with proven results.
• Flynn will bring a balanced conservative-based approach to the clerk's office, both as an economic steward and an opportunity seeker. Flynn will place Douglas County in a position to embrace the challenges of the next generation.
• Flynn has spent decades building relationships with elected officials, department heads, as well as, judges and attorneys that use the clerk's office on a daily basis.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Flynn's office would be the most efficient in the county with a continued focus on reducing taxpayer money, but not at the cost of a taxpayer's experience.

His office would also take an innovative approach toward new technology, ways to streamline the process, and include being open to taking different forms of payment. Public service and transparency would be the foundation of an office run by Thomas Flynn.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Without a doubt, I look up to both my mother and father and try and follow in their footsteps. Both of my parents worked full-time jobs as well as picking up part-time jobs to put their 10 children through private Catholic high schools. I saw them struggle with the day to day bills that come with raising a large family. We never went without and they always attended our activities and school events. They taught me family based values, fiscal responsibility, as well as an unmatched work ethic. I wouldn't be where I am today without their amaizing love and support.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a true fiscal conservative and would be a trustworthy steward of taxpayers money. I believe in limited government and complete transparency. I don't believe in debt and efficiency would be the foundation of my office.

I have a proven track record of leadership and supervision. I have experience in supervising deputies and civilian personnel. Not only on the street but also for an extended period of time at the courthouse. I was chosen to supervise the day to day operations of the entire sheriff's office operations at the courthouse during the pandemic. I was chosen for my experience, leadership and relationships that I've built with elected officials, department heads and stakeholders at the courthouse, including the Clerk of the District Courts office. It's these years of experience and qualities that make me the most qualified candidate for this office.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

I think fiscal efficiency is absolutely the most important responsibility for the clerk of the district court. This office should be a steward of taxpayers money with transparency as it's foundation. We should always look for ways to reduce taxpayer liability without reducing services. We should have a conservative based approach to our budget with a focus on streamlining services and providing a better experience to the public. I will make that the top priority of my office day one.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. This book gives everyday people some of the most informative money tips and how to balance a budget and live a straightforward approach to money management.
This approach was instrumental in my development of a personal and household budget which allowed me to become debt-free at a very young age, while still allowing me to give generously to causes that I find dear to my heart. I believe it is a must read for any young individual starting out on their own.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

As a current law enforcement officer of over 27 years, I would categorize my legal philosophy as a law and order approach. I truly believe that we live in the greatest country in the world and we have the best legal system ever created. No system is perfect or without fault. That being said, our system goes to great lengths to make sure that no innocent person is convicted of a crime. The principal of a fair trial by a jury of your peers is the cornerstone of our legal system and should not be taken lightly. It's paramount that we protect the rights of an individual while still taking into account the need to protect our communities. I have spent the last 27 years of my life trying to uphold these individual rights while still protecting the community that I serve. It has truly been an honor to be an advocate for this system and serve the citizens of Douglas County.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

I'm running for Douglas County Clerk of the District Court because my nearly three decades of dedicated service as a deputy sheriff makes me the most qualified candidate. I have the experience of putting many of the clerk's office responsibilities into actual action during the course of my duties. I have placed over 1,000 at risk juveniles in safe haven homes under juvenile ex parte orders. I have made over 5,000 criminal warrant arrests, as well as served thousands of board of mental health and protection orders. I have cataloged and inventoried countless pieces of evidence into property for safeguarding, chain of custody and future prosecution. I have testified in front of numerous juries as well as sitting in on their selections and safeguarding them while doing their Civic duty, including being sequestered. I understand the requirements of this office, why they are important and how they are used in the criminal justice system. I spent my career building relationships that make me the most qualified and effective candidate for this office.

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.

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Candidate

Douglas County Clerk of the District Court

Website

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