David Flaherty

David Thomas Flaherty (December 9, 1928 – December 20, 2020) was an American businessman and politician.

Early life David Thomas Flaherty was born on December 9, 1928, in Boston. He graduated from The English High School and served in the U.S. Army. He then attended Boston University, where he was elected student body president before graduating in 1956 with a degree in business administration. While his parents were Catholics and members of the Democratic Party, Flaherty converted to Methodism and became a member of the Republican Party. He later said of these differences, "I just didn't like being told what to do." He married Nancy Hamill on December 6, 1953, and had several children with her. In 1955, he moved to Lenoir, North Carolina As the body was under Democratic control and hostile to Republican proposals, he had little impact on state legislation.

Flaherty supported James Holshouser in the 1972 gubernatorial election. After Holshouser won, he appointed Flaherty Secretary of the Department of Human Resources (DHS) on January 5, 1973. He served until 1976 and restructured the department during his tenure.