Andy Berke never took a class titled “How to Become a Politician.” He never read a book titled “Serving in Public Office for Dummies.” And no one ever taught him all he’d need to know about being a legislator. But when he was elected to the Tennessee senate in 2007, he was already armed with the skills that would make him a good man for the job.
Berke knew how to be at odds with someone without taking it personally. He’d also learned how to lose on an issue and wake up the next day, ready to tackle something new. He was skilled at analyzing a situation, anticipating the things that could go wrong, and making the necessary reinforcements.
Berke acquired and sharpened those skills while working as a lawyer. And as he’s worked as the representative of the tenth district, his 17 years as an attorney have served him and his constituents well.
“One of my main jobs is constituent service, which is a lot like helping clients. As an attorney, I’m generally able to leave my clients better off than they were before. And when a constituent has a problem and calls my office, I’m able to advocate for him in the same way,” he says.
Once, a constituent called Berke’s office because her bank wouldn’t respond to her attempts to resolve her loan delinquency. Berke called Attorney General Bob Cooper and asked him to look into the matter. Cooper did, and the bank immediately contacted the woman to start the process of putting her mortgage back on track.
Later, the lady emailed Berke a photo of her house along with a note that read, “My daughter and I are sleeping in our home tonight because of you.”
“You won’t get a more powerful email than that,” Berke says.
On a broader scale, Berke spent a good portion of 2009 working with a small group that drew up the Complete College Tennessee Act of 2010, which he believes will have a positive effect on higher education in the state.
“The act will help more people graduate, improve our economy, and move our state forward,” he says. As a profession, attorneys are well represented in the Tennessee senate. Out of 33 senators, about a dozen are lawyers. The percentage of attorneys in the state house is less, with only about six out of 99 representatives certified to practice law. Berke believes lawyers are a vital part of the legislature because of their familiarity with legal matters.
“A big part of what attorneys do is deal with matters that come before the judiciary, whether it’s domestic relations, criminal law or tort issues. We’ve all had experiences that allow us to legislate in those areas with some degree of understanding,” he says.
Unlike some of his peers in the state congress, Berke is still a practicing lawyer. As a litigator with Berke, Berke & Berke in Chattanooga, he primarily does plaintiff’s work in personal injury cases. When the Tennessee General Assembly is in session, however, he spends Monday through Friday in Nashville, making sure the voices of his constituents in Hamilton and Marion Counties are heard.
Berke says the hardest part of his job is having two jobs.
“I’d love to spend all of my time concentrating on one area. Both my legal and my political jobs come with a lot of responsibility, and trying to balance the two along with my family is difficult,” he says. But like many lawyers and lawmakers, Berke is driven to serve something bigger than him, and has seized both opportunities to be in a position to make a difference.
“My job as a lawyer and a legislator is to think about others. If I’m not doing that, then I’m doing my job poorly,” he says.
Although striking a balance isn’t easy, Berke says he believes he hits the mark most days.
“I try to make sure my two daughters understand why I’m not home several nights a week, and that they have experiences that teach them that they’ll someday need to make sacrifices for things that are bigger than them,” he says.
Berke must be getting through to his oldest daughter, Hannah, a fifth grader. Recently, his youngest daughter, Orly, a second grader, asked her older sibling whether she wanted to be a fashion designer or a lawyer when she grew up, and Hannah said a lawyer.
“She’s always drawing dresses and things of that nature, so that was a sign to me that she’s paying attention and understands what’s going on. Passing on our values to the next generation is one of the most important things we do,” Berke says. Berke’s father, Marvin, im-parted his principles to his son. Both he, his grandfather and his brother were all lawyers, leading Berke to joke that when it was time for him to go to work, all other professions had been weeded out of his family genes.
“My father was a great role model. He worked hard, he cared about his clients, and he seemed satisfied with what he did. As a child, those things make a big impression on you. I grew up thinking being a lawyer was as noble a profession as there was,” he says.
Born in 1968 in Chattanooga, Berke graduated with honors from Stanford University in 1990, then worked as a legislative assistant in the office of Tennessee Congressman Bart Gordon. The experience triggered in him a desire to serve his community through public office.
Upon graduating from the University of Chicago Law School in 1994, Berke worked as a law clerk for Judge Deanell Tacha of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Judicial District in Denver, Colo. During this time, he also taught at Kansas University Law School as an adjunct professor.
A year later, Berke returned to Chattanooga and joined the firm his grandfather, Harry, had founded in an effort to improve the lives of Tennesseans. From his grandfather’s efforts, Berke learned the value of helping others while giving back to and improving one’s community.
Elected to the Tennessee senate in 2007 and re-elected in 2008, Berke is the vice-chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He also serves on the State Education and Transportation Committees. In 2008, Gov. Phil Bredesen appointed Berke to the State Workforce Development Board, which administers programs aimed at training people for the labor force. Even though Berke’s political job takes him to Nashville, he’s remained active in Chattanooga. He works as a board member of Siskin Children’s Institute, the local public television station (WTCI), the Chattanooga Nature Center, the Tennessee Holocaust Commission and Goodwill of Chattanooga.
In addition, Berke has held volunteer positions at the Children’s Advocacy Center, the Creative Discovery Museum, and Allied Arts of Chattanooga. He’s also been a member of the PTA and worked on the Superintendant’s Parent Advisory Committee at Normal Park Museum Magnet, the school his daughters attend.
Professionally, Berke is a past president of the Chattanooga Association for Justice, a charter member of the local chapter of the Inns of Court, and a founding member of the Chattanooga Pro Bono Association. While Berke has realized his dream of working for the greater good, he says being a state senator has exceeded his wildest expectations.
“Going into neighborhoods, door to door, and talking with people about their hopes, dreams, and roadblocks gives you a perspective on life that’s enriching. When someone tells you about his problems, and then says, ‘But I trust you to fix it,’ it’s empowering.”
Berke’s current term runs through 2012. When asked if he’ll run for re-election, he defers his answer to the future. With all Berke has on his plate, it makes sense for him to focus on the tasks at hand than speculate what might or might not be down the road. But one thing is certain: Whatever Berke’s future holds, like his grandfather and his father before him, he’ll will be working hard to improve the lives of those he serves.