Berman to run unopposed

Berman

State Representative Leo Berman (R-Tyler) drew no opposition in his bid for a sixth term in the Texas House of Representatives.

Even as nuanced issues, like immigration and appraisal caps, demand his thoughts and energy these days, he finds encouragement and inspiration close to home. With eight years in the office of State Representative, Berman has plenty to reflect on.

He remembers the thrill of being elected the first time upon retiring to East Texas after a career in the U.S. Army and a stint as a businessman in Arlington.

Unfortunately, it was in the early days of that first term that his wife of 33 years, Cara Sue, was diagnosed with a form of ovarian cancer.

"When Cara Sue died, I never expected to marry again," Berman said. "But God had other plans."

Smith County Sheriff J. B. Smith introduced Berman to Lou Ann Cook at a TJC banquet they all attended.

From their first date, Berman and Cook saw each other every day until they were married a year later by the Rev. David Galloway, then- Rector at Christ Episcopal Church, in the Lieutenant Governor's Reception Room in the Texas State Capitol.

Berman said he loves to brag about Lou Ann's own accomplishments, saying, "She has served on almost every non-profit board in Tyler."

Besides their wedding, one of Berman's other favorite moments happened in the Texas State Capitol before a recent session and is captured in a photo on his desk in Austin.

With his family gathered on the House floor around his desk, Berman raised his hand for the swearing-in ceremony that happens before each session of the legislature.

Maryn, who is a toddler and the youngest of his grandchildren, climbed on his desk and began punching his electronic voting buttons.

He thinks she might have a future as a representative.

Another highlight a recent session for Berman was the effort necessary to retain funding for UT Tyler.

Because of the school's excellent nursing and engineering programs, the wording of the original budget meant that

UT Tyler, a school which has seen double digit growth in enrollment several times over in the last five years, would have, however, suffered a 3 percent decrease in funding, a change that would have meant "turning away students," according to Berman.

He was delighted when House Speaker Tom Craddick, called recently and said, "Leo, you owe me a cup of coffee."

It seems that Craddick went to bat for the provision

Berman included in a bill to correct the discrepancy against institutions like UT Tyler, preventing a veto.

Berman added that when it comes to state business, "We are the envy of every state in the Union because our budget was fiscally responsible," including $2.5 billion surplus and $4.3 billion surplus going into the "rainy day" fund before the beginning of the next session in January 2009.

The father of five, grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of two, Berman sees his work in the legislature in terms of future generations.

Because of his grandkids, Berman additionally claims to have seen the Disney version of Cinderella "a 100 times recently. "

So, he said, happy endings are on his mind.

"And they all lived happily ever after," said Berman with a smile, "That is exactly what is happening. God has just blessed us here."

Now Berman is looking to his next session and sees what he believes are his priorities.

Berman, who chairs the House Committee on Elections, said he will lead the legislature in the next session with bills to deal with over 1.75 million illegal aliens in Texas.

"Illegal aliens cost Texans $3.5 billion per year and receive better health benefits than many of my middle-income constituents, " Berman said.

Immigration will be his top priority.

"There are more than 12,500 illegal aliens in our state prison system and we are treating them at an enormous expense for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, the plague, polio, malaria, dengue fever, and leprosy, " he said. "They make up more than half of the violent gangs in Texas and they clog our hospital emergency rooms.

"They must be dealt with at the state level, since the federal government will not act to provide relief."