For those of you that do not know me, I am Patrick Edward Flaherty, a 46 year-old husband, father and businessman and raised in Southern Maryland. I run a successful newspaper company (Tidbits of Southern Maryland) and an office equipment sales and service company, CalvertCopier.com, been active in Calvert County since 1991, and have been blessed with two beautiful daughters, and wonderful son.

I was born in 1964 in Washington D.C. and lived in South East Washington until 1967. In that year, my father moved the family to a home in Waldorf.  I graduated high school in 1982. After graduation, I immediately started work in the office equipment business repairing typewriters, and, have been self-employed for over 17 years.

I joined the US Army in the fall of 1986 and was trained as an AH-1F Cobra Attack Helicopter Crewchief and rose through the ranks to obtain the rank of Sergeant.

I am a combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War (Desert Shield/Desert Storm).
During the War, I supported the 1^st Cavalry and the 2^nd Armored Calvary Regiment in aircraft maintenance. During combat and ground combat support missions, I volunteered to transport Iraqi prisoners of war, while attached to the 14^th MP Brigade, from both Iraq and Kuwait to rear holding prisoners of war cells.  I left the Army in 1991 after the war. I am a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars John W. Trotter/Robert Stethem Memorial Post 8810.
I attended the University of Maryland and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

As an active member of this community, and as a father, it is my goal to do everything I can to make our government more responsive and fiscally responsible.