Berman to seek 6th term

Just days after announcing that he would seek a sixth term as District 6 State Representative, Leo Berman was appointed to the Energy Council, a nonprofit group that offers recommendations on energy policies. The appointment came from House Speaker Tom Craddick.

"By serving on the Energy Council, Rep. Berman gives his district and East Texas an important voice in developing energy policy in our state and nationwide," Craddick said in a prepared statement.

Berman says he loves being in the Legislature and that he can devote his complete attention to the matters at hand.

The republican legislator is a retired lieutenant colonel in the United States Army.

Berman plans to continue to champion conservative causes such as illegal immigration and appraisal reform as he has in the past. "These are both unfinished jobs that have to be done," Berman said. "I want to be part of getting them done next session."

He is not happy with the "do nothing" action and attitude of the federal government. Berman adds that state officials need to be concerned about illegal immigration, and he says there are some things states can do about it.

Berman said his plans on appraisal reform will focus on recommendations made by the governor's Task Force on Appraisal Reform prior to the 2007 session.

"Those recommendations were killed in committee in the last session by Rep. Fred Hill who basically served as the front man for the Texas Municipal League," Berman said.

Berman, 72, was first elected in 1998. He chairs the House Committee on Elections and is a member of the House Committee on Government Reform. He moved to Tyler in 1990. He is married to Dr. Lou Ann Berman who serves as the executive director of community relations at the University of Texas at Tyler.