East Texas

By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer

Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, strolled into the University of Texas at Tyler’s Ornelas Activity Center and were welcomed by a standing ovation from more than 120 attendees at an impromptu endorsement swap.

Berman, who had been positioning himself for a run at the governor position, officially dropped his name from possible contention for the Republican primary in March and followed it by endorsing Perry’s candidacy. He did, however, announce his intent to run for a seventh term as District 6 state representative.

Perry publicly agreed to pursue to continue Berman’s four platform items on which he would run for governor, including: assertion of state’s rights under the 10th amendment, challenging the federal government’s regulation of intrastate commerce, ordering all state agencies to remove illegal residents from state benefit programs and allowing the training of state law enforcement officers to legally enforce immigration laws.

Berman told the crowd that Perry’s record shows he is the only conservative in the race for governor.

“He supports limited government, limited taxation, traditional values, private property rights our Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms, and I am so proud of his pro-life record,” Berman said of Perry.

Possible gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has remained silent regarding an official run for the state’s top position despite political posturing that indicates there will be a major confrontation with the incumbent during the Republican Primary in March 2010. Perry is Texas’ longest-serving governor.

Friday evening a Hutchison spokesman said in a statement, “Kay Bailey Hutchison is proud of the conservative, results-driven record. Whether helping to create a 287(g) program for increased law enforcement funding, sponsoring the Enumerated Powers Act which strengthens the 10th amendment and states’ rights, introducing the District of Colombia Personal Protection Act which would have repealed the D.C. gun ban or voting repeatedly to clean up waste and abuse of government benefits, Kay Bailey Hutchison is the only conservative in this race with an actual record to prove it.”

Perry agreed that continued diligence on the border is needed but pointed out the need for the problem, which has cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, to be addressed federally as well. The governor did express, much to the crowd’s approval, his opinion that continued assertion of state’s rights will be needed to maintain Texas’ position as one of just six states in the nation not in dire financial crisis.

After Berman officially announced his candidacy for District 6, Perry expressed his full support for a man he said was a “rugged individualist” who has “spoken his heart with passion and clarity and with an overriding devotion to our nation.

“I’ve told him many times I would follow him anywhere, be in a foxhole any time he needs,” Perry said. “He has been a wonderful spokesperson for the people of Tyler and the state and nation.”

Berman was elected in 1998, unseating four-term incumbent Ted Kamel, whom he blasted for not adhering to a promise to serve only four terms. During the campaign, Berman promised voters he would serve only four terms.

Prior to announcing his run in 2006 for his fourth term, Berman asked voters to allow him out of his term limits promise. He said he had learned that effectiveness in the Legislature is largely based on seniority. And following his re-election, he was appointed to his first committee chairmanship, heading the House Elections Committee.

Smith County Republican Party Chair Ashton Oravetz said the District 6 race between Berman and challenger, former Tyler mayor Joey Seeber, will be “a good one,” but because the district is the most conservative in the state and the incumbent has the conservative grassroots constituency on his side, Berman will win the primary.

Seeber, who previously announced his intention to run for the House seat being vacated by Berman, responded to Friday's announcement, saying, “The residents of House District 6 will ultimately decide who is elected. Many community and party leaders, including many supporters of Gov. Rick Perry, have encouraged me to run for this seat and have signed on as early supporters of my campaign. I have a record of cutting the tax rate and delivering results for our community and I want to take the same results-oriented leadership to Austin as a state representative.”

Berman, 74, retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel with 22 years of service, earning three Bronze Star medals, among other decorations. He has served as a city council member in Arlington. He moved to Tyler in 1990.

District 6 State Representative Leo Berman (right) listens to Texas Gov. Rick Perry speak about his plans for the State of Texas at a during a speech at the Ornelus Activity Center, UT Tyler on Friday. During his speech Gov. Perry also endorsed Representative Berman in his upcoming reelection campaign.
(Staff Photo By Tom Turner)