Howard Berman
Howard Lawrence Berman (born April 15, 1941) is an American attorney and retired politician who served as a U.S. representative from California from 1983 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented the state's 26th congressional district until redistricting and the 28th congressional district—which both encompassed parts of the San Fernando Valley—for a combined 15 terms.
Howard Berman
Brad Sherman (redistricting)
26th district (1983–2003)
28th district (2003–2013)
57th district (1973–1974)
43rd district (1974–1982)
Janis Berman
2
Early life, education, and legal career[edit]
Berman was born in Los Angeles, to Jewish parents,[1][2] the son of Eleanor (née Schapiro) and Joseph Berman. His maternal grandparents immigrated from Russia.[3] He graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in 1959 and earned his B.A. in international relations in 1962 and his LL.B. in 1965 at the University of California, Los Angeles where he befriended future congressman Henry Waxman.[4] Blanche Bettington, his high school civics teacher, inspired him to enter politics and government.[5]
He was a VISTA volunteer (1966–1967) in Baltimore and San Francisco, and was an associate at a Los Angeles law firm, Levy, Van Bourg & Hackler (1967–72) specializing in labor relations.[6][7][8][9][10]
California Assembly[edit]
Elections[edit]
Berman won election to the Assembly in 1972 from a district in the Hollywood Hills, unseating the incumbent Republican speaker pro tempore. His brother Michael, campaign manager in Henry Waxman's 1968 Assembly race, again ran a targeted mail operation.
Tenure[edit]
In 1974, Berman and Waxman both opposed Willie Brown's unsuccessful revolt against Speaker of the California State Assembly Leo McCarthy, who rewarded Berman's loyalty by appointing him the youngest majority leader in Assembly history. McCarthy fired Berman when Berman tried to replace him in 1980. Although McCarthy failed to retain the speakership, Berman failed to win it and Brown became speaker. Other members remarked on what a tough politician he was; the Bermans helped arrange a primary defeat for at least one colleague (Jack R. Fenton) who had opposed his bid.[11][12][13][14][15]
Career after Congress[edit]
Berman joined Washington, D.C. law firm Covington & Burling as a senior advisor in March 2013.[57] Berman also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Democratic Institute.[58] He serves on the board of The Washington Institute for Near East Policy,[59] and is an advisory board member of the Counter Extremism Project.[60]