Governmental Affairs
The goals of the Government Affairs Division are to protect and strengthen federal programs impacting the local economy, pursue the development of infrastructure that encourages business growth, and encourage a cooperative spirit with local governments.
This division acts as an advocate for pro-business policies and legislation that promote economic growth.
Offutt
www.offutt.af.mil
The relationship between Bellevue and its military partners is among the best anywhere in the United States. Senior Air Force leaders continue to praise the excellent relationship between the city and Offutt AFB as the best in the Air Force. The blend in the business world of civilian and military personnel at Offutt Air Force Base, working side-by-side to meet a common goal and purpose, exemplifies the military-civilian interaction in the community as well.
The Chamber's Military Affairs initiative is a full-time effort led by elected and business leadership and spearheaded by the Chamber's professional staff. The Bellevue area's support of its military community is legendary.
Federal
Nebraska Delegates
House of Representatives
 | 1st District
Jeff Fortenberry (R)
1517 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 | www.house.gov/fortenberry
Tel: 202-225-4806 |
 | 2nd District
Lee Terry (R)
1524 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 | leeterry.house.gov
Tel: 202-225-4155
Fax: 202-226-5452 |
 | 3rd District
Adrian Smith (R)
503 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515 |
Tel: 202-225-6435
Fax: 202-225-0207 |
State
Unicameral Nebraska’s legislature is unique among all state legislatures in the nation because it has a single-house system. Visit www.unicam.state.ne.us.
Sen. Abbie Cornett
(District 45, Bellevue)
Home Address: 2601 Alberta Avenue, Bellevue, NE 68147
Office: Room 1117, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509, phone (402) 471-2615
Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2004
Committees: General Affairs; Revenue; Urban Affairs; Rules; Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact Commission
Biography: Born Aug. 22, 1966, in Omaha.
Education: Attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Graduate of Nebraska Law Enforcement Academy, 1993; Bellevue University (B.S. in criminal justice), 2003.
Family: Husband, Mark Stranglen. Children: Victoria and Madison Stranglen.
Member: Bellevue Chamber of Commerce; Altrusa; Optimists; retired status, Nebraska Association of Women Police; retired status, Fraternal Order of Police.
Sen. Gail Kopplin
(District 3, Gretna)
Home Address: 21760 Hilltop Avenue, Gretna, NE 68028
Office: Room 1522, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509, phone (402) 471-2627, fax (402) 479-0903
Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2004
Committees: Education; Natural Resources
Biography: Born May 20, 1939, in Sterling.
Education: Graduate of Peru State College (B.S.), 1966; University of Nebraska-Lincoln (master of education), 1988; received education specialist certificate, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1982.
Family: Wife, Mary Lou. Children: Janette, Thomas and Deborah.
Occupation: Retired school administrator.
Member: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Gretna Chamber of Commerce, Gretna Business Association, Gretna Optimists Club.
Former member: Gretna Board of Adjustments; Gretna Area Development Corporation; Sarpy County Economic Development Committee.
Sen. Tim Gay
(District 14, Papillion)
Home Address: 1001 Hogan Dr., Papillion, NE 68046
Office: Room 1522, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509, phone (402) 471-2730
E-mail: tgay@leg.ne.gov
Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2006
Committees: Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Health and Human Services (vice chairperson)
Biography: Born July 9, 1964
Family: Married Tonee Gay; three children: Matt, Kathryn and Nicholas
Occupation: Investment advisor.
Sen. Dave Pankonin
(District 2, Louisville)
Home Address: P.O. Box 106, Louisville, NE 68037
Office: Room 1529, State Capitol, Lincoln, NE 68509, phone 402) 471-2613
E-mail: dpankonin@leg.ne.gov
Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2006
Committees: Banking, Commerce and Insurance; Health and Human Services
Biography: Born Dec. 1, 1951, in Lincoln.
Education: Graduate of Louisville High School, 1970; University of Nebraska College of Business Administration, 1974; attended M.B.A. program at Northwestern University, 1974-75.
Family: Married Lori Pankonin, July 12, 1975; two children: Paul and Stephanie.
Occupation: Owner and president, Pankonin’s, Inc.
Former: Louisville Mayor; Louisville City Council (president); Louisville Public School Board; UNL College of Business Administration Alumni Board (president); Nebraska United Methodist Foundation Board of Directors; Nebraska United Methodist Church Council on Finance and Administration (chair).
Member: Home State Bank Board of Directors, Louisville; Cass County Historical Society Board of Directors.
Honors/awards: UNL Innocents Society, 1973; UNL College of Business Administration Alumni Leadership Award, 1985; UNL Alumni Association Young Alumnus Award, 1987.
County
www.Sarpy.com
Sarpy County is home of Bellevue, Gretna, La Vista, Papillion, Springfield, and Offutt Air Force Base. Sarpy County has a population of over 125,000 and is located in the eastern part of the state, just south of the City of Omaha.
City
www.Bellevue.net
The City of Bellevue is classified a city of the first class by Nebraska statute. The City is comprised of five wards.
The municipal government consists of a mayor and a ten member city council. Elected officials hold office for four year terms, with each ward having one council member up for election every two years.
The mayor appoints, and the council confirms, the city administrator, who handles the day-to-day operation of the City.
The council meets the second and fourth Monday of each month. The open meeting is held in the council chambers in City Hall at 210 West Mission Avenue, usually at 6:00 pm. The agenda for each meeting is published on this site. The agenda is then replaced with the minutes of the meeting when they are available.
Ed Babbitt was elected in 2006. He was born on a farm near Elliott, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Omaha University (now the University of Nebraska - Omaha) in 1960. He also received a master's in business administration from Creighton University in 1969.
He has been married to his wife Barbara since 1962. They have four adult children.
As a partner in an Omaha certified public accountant office, Ed was first elected to the Bellevue City Council in 1974. He left the Council for eight years, before being returned to the Council in 1992, where he served Ward 3 until his election as Mayor.
The mayor's e-mail address is: ebabbitt@bellevue.net