An Omaha attorney announced Monday his intention to seek the 12th Legislative District seat in Douglas County in 2006.

No other candidates have announced for the seat, which is held by state Sen. Pam Redfield of Omaha.

Steve Lathrop is a partner with the law firm of Hauptman, O'Brien, Wolf & Lathrop. Lathrop was born and raised in Omaha. He holds a business degree and a law degree from Creighton University. Lathrop has four daughters and is a member of St. Gerald Parish in Ralston.

Lathrop said in a new release that strong, competent and experienced leadership will be important in the next election. His 20 years of experience helping people find a voice in Nebraska will make him an effective legislator, he said.

Lathrop opposed the Omaha Public Schools' merger plan.

"The OPS merger plan is detrimental to education in the metro area. This hostile takeover jeopardizes the future of the Ralston and Millard communities and will not enhance the education of a single student," he said. "In the Legislature, I will be a tireless defender of our community's educational system."