Republican Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska’s 2nd District has been girding for a tough 2010 general election contest with Democratic state Sen. Tom White, after the incumbent survived a close rematch race with a upstart challenger in 2008.

But Terry, who is seeking a sixth term in the Omaha-based district, will have to gear up even earlier, with the emergence of a potentially serious opponent for his May Republican primary.

Matt Sakalosky, the president of a health care technology consulting company, has confirmed his plans to run and has scheduled his first major campaign event — a town hall meeting — for this coming Sunday.