Teresa Whitehead, 48, of Papillion announced her candidacy for Nebraska's District 14 Legislative seat, which covers the Papillion area and is currently held by Tim Gay.
   She was raised in Palmyra. Her husband, Bruce, is formerly of Syracuse.
Whitehead, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, currently serves as an analyst at U.S. Strategic Command.
   She is a Distinguished Military Graduate from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln where she earned a bachelor's of science in Secondary Education. She received her master's degree in Human Services and Human Resource Education from Boston University.
   Whitehead served as a military intelligence officer and was assigned to the Allied Command Europe Counterintelligence Group  in Belgium. She deployed as the Deputy Commander of the U.S. National Intelligence Cell as part of the Stabilization Force in Bosnia.
   Whitehead returned  to her native Nebraska in 1999 to serve at USSTRATCOM , Offutt Air Force Base. Following this assignment, she headed the Army ROTC Department as the professor of military science at Creighton University.  She retired from the U.S. Army in 2006.
   Whitehead said she is running for the Nebraska Legislature because she wants to extend her national service to the state and local level.
   "I believe my unique experience will allow me to effectively serve Legislative District 14," Whitehead said. "I look forward to providing leadership in the Legislature to help address the challenges facing the citizens of my home district and the State of Nebraska. "
   Whitehead said she is particularly interested in improving education, growing  the economy, assisting small businesses, reducing property taxes and strengthening neighborhoods.
   Bruce Whitehead owns and operates his own  remodeling and repair business in Papillion. Teresa and Bruce have two grown children. Their daughter Carrie and son-in-law Seth live in Omaha, and their son Jesse is a student at Bellevue University.
   Whitehead is an active member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Papillion.