Crystal Rhoades

Email editor@[the profile publisher].org to notify us of updates to this biography.

Rhoades is a lifelong resident of Omaha, Nebraska. Rhoades attended Omaha’s Central High School. Upon graduation, she received a Goodrich Scholarship to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There she earned a B.A. in political science and psychology. She also studied public administration. Rhoades later earned a Master's degree in political science from University of Nebraska at Omaha.[1][3]

Following college, from 2000 to 2006, Rhoades worked as an IT analyst with Aquila.

In 2006, Rhoades began working at the University of Omaha Neighborhood Center developing solutions to crime, safety, housing and health issues by working with elected officials to advocate for their neighborhoods. She stayed with the Neighborhood Center until 2013.[3]

Also in 2006, Rhoades was elected to the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors. She served as treasurer, secretary and chairwoman of the board.[1]

In 2013, Rhoades became the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiatives Coordinator for Douglas County. In that role, she seeks to improve outcomes for children who enter the juvenile justice system.[3][1]

Rhoades has also worked with the South Omaha Neighborhood Alliance, the Midtown Neighborhood Alliance, the Metropolitan Community College Foundation and the Omaha Health Kids Alliance Housing Committee.[3]

Rhoades has been honored with a number of awards recognizing her efforts both at Metropolitan Community College and the Neighborhood Center. She was named one of the Omaha Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Omahans. She also received the League of Women Voter’s Making Democracy Work Award, Nebraska Democratic Party – John F. Kennedy Award and the Nebraska’s First Lady’s Outstanding Community Service Award. Additionally, Rhoades is a graduate of the Omaha Chamber’s Leadership Omaha class 33.[3]

Education

B.A., in political science and psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha

M.S., in political science, University of Nebraska at Omaha[4]

Public Service Commission (2015 - 2023)

Rhoades was first elected to the public service commission in 2014 and was sworn into office the following January for a six-year term.[5] She left office in 2023 after she was elected as the Douglas County Clerk of the District Court in November 2022.

Crystal Rhoades did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

blockquote{border-left:none !important;padding-left:2em;position:relative;color:#444;font-family:"Libre Franklin",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#202122;font-style:normal;}blockquote::before{content:open-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;left:-10px;top:40px;color:#ccc}blockquote::after{content:close-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;color:#ccc}

Campaign websiteRhoades' campaign website stated the following:Middle Class Tax CutsMiddle Class America is feeling the pinch of high inflation and low wages. We have to find ways to deliver more tax relief directly to middle and working class families.Immigration ReformLegal immigration helped build this country and is critical to our economy. We need comprehensive immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship in the fields where we need workers. Immigrants should not live in fear. We want to allow them to pay, and benefit, from taxes like all Americans.Protecting Social SecuritySocial Security must be there for our seniors. Social Security must keep up with the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and prescription costs. Americans worked for decades to earn those benefits. We have a duty to make sure that money is there for our seniors in retirement.Support VeteransMany Veterans have to wait for months to access their earned benefits. We must fund the Veterans Administration and provide the resources they need to help our Veterans get timely access to their earned benefits. We have to streamline and modernize the delivery of services. We must support Veterans as they transition into the civilian workforce. We need to protect them, they risked their lives to protect us. Living Wages We should work to create as many living wage jobs as possible in America. When we put more money in the hands of the people who are most likely to spend it we stimulate growth in our economy and reduce welfare payments.End Prohibition on Cannabis Americans have been clear they want cannabis legalized. We must legalize the industry, regulate it for safety, tax it for revenue. Legalization will generate billions of dollars of economic activity and allow for the expansion of the cannabis industry.Strong Public SchoolsAmerica needs strong public schools because they educate our workforce. We should pay our teachers and support staff living wages, give them reasonable class sizes, provide safe schools, and feed the kids so they can focus on learning instead of worrying about when they might eat again. We need to strengthen support for our trade schools and community colleges. Find ways to reduce and relieve student loan debts for the millions of Americans who acquired those debts trying to improve their economic conditions only to find wages haven’t grown as quickly as inflation. Let’s not shame them for trying to climb the economic ladder, let’s solve the problem. Grow the EconomyAmericans are working harder and longer and they are struggling to make ends meet. We want what we’ve always wanted, a decent job that allows us to provide for our families. Let’s focus on delivering an economic environment that creates those opportunities for more Americans. Let’s define an “independent contractor” to stop the misclassification of employees as contractors to deny them unions or benefits. We must enforce labor law.American workers need paid time off. We need to be able to take a few days off work when we have the flu or a baby. Men need family leave too. Develop incentives that help strengthen small and mid size businesses to enable them to provide benefits to their employees. Respect Privacy – Let Women ChooseWomen must have the right to choose. Americans should have the freedom to make medical decisions for themselves. We have a right to demand privacy from the government. No American should be denied the care they need because of an intrusive government.Reforming DemocracyRequire news broadcasters to report both sides of controversial issues. There was a time this was required and politics were far less partisan. When people see all sides of the issue we are more likely to focus on how to fix problems instead of who is to blame for them.Create a 90-day window for filling Supreme Court vacancies to reduce opportunities for partisan shenanigans. Establish concrete dates and conditions for redistricting in every state for federal maps. No more gerrymandering for partisan advantage.Eliminate the electoral college. Change to a popular vote for president.Define a limited election period where candidates can advertise to voters to reduce voter fatigue. End Citizens United.Establish a mandatory retirement for Senate, Congress, and Presidency. HealthcareAmericans need us to aggressively target waste, fraud, and abuse in the healthcare system. We also need to provide a public option or Medicare for All for every American. This relieves burdens on employers, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. Employers who want to continue to offer existing plans can do it.American doctors, nurses, and hospitals need us to solve Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, streamline processing, and generally make it easier for them to focus on patient care. Emerging TechnologiesInnovation is essential to America’s future. Technologies like blockchain are rapidly evolving, with the potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, level the playing field for everyday Americans, and strengthen America’s leadership in financial technology. At the same time, artificial intelligence is opening a new frontier in how we work, learn, and solve complex problems. The coming years are filled with promise and opportunity that, with the right leadership, can mean better lives for all Americans.But without clear rules, bad actors can exploit these technologies and harm consumers. We must support innovation while putting in place commonsense safeguards that ensure these tools are used ethically and responsibly. Technologies like blockchain offer the potential to increase trust, transparency, and efficiency. America must lead the world in artificial intelligence and we need to keep our entrepreneurs in this space at home.LGBTQ+ RightsI lost a beloved gay friend to suicide. It’s part of the reason I asked to serve on the Federal Communication Commission subcomittee that developed the suicide prevention emergency line 988. Trump cut the funding because it helped the LGBTQ+ community. I want to get it back. I’ve long been an ally. Advocating for an equal protection for the LGBTQ+ community at the city level in my role as an elected official. I walked at PRIDE when the only other elected official present was Anne Boyle and was PROUD. And I helped to elect many in the LGBTQ+ community including the first openly gay man to serve in the Nebraska Legislature, in a red district and flipped it blue. I will always stand with you.Middle EastIsrael/Palestinian War – I support a two state solution that allows the Palestinian people to self govern free from Hamas. War crimes should be prosecuted. All applicable conditions, laws, rules and regulations should be enforced related to aid provided to any ally. Israel is suffering from the same problem America is – bad leadership. I wouldn’t want American allies to leave us based on Trump, and therefore do not think it’s in our interests to abandon Israel based on Netanyahu. The United States still benefits from a strong relationship with the only democracy in the middle east but more needs to be done to repair the standing of both countries due to the behavior of our current leaders.Iran War – The American people are owed an explanation about why this war was started, the objectives, and timeline for ending the war. Congress needs to determine if the reasoning, objectives and timeline meet our national security and economic interests. Congress must hold the president accountable. I want to see a speedy resolution to the war and to restore peace and order as quickly as possible.— Crystal Rhoades' campaign website (April 28, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Crystal Rhoades did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.