Arthur L. Berman

From HistoryWiki

Arthur L. Berman Soundex Code B655

State Senator Arthur Berman a.k.a. Art Berman was the Democratic representative from the 9th Illinois Senatorial District.

Arthur L. Berman was born on Saturday, May 4, 1935, in Chicago where he attended the Stone Grammar School (now known as the Leander Stone Scholastic Academy, DeWitt Clinton Elementary School, and Nicholas Senn High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, in 1955 where he graduated with honors. That same year, Berman began his study of law at Northwestern University School of Law where he graduated in 1958 with honors. During his last year at Northwestern, Berman served as Chairman of the Student Board of Governors and as editor of the Northwestern University Law Review.

Berman’s first foray into public politics began with local politics, where he earned the position of 50th Ward President of the Young Democrats in 1956. In addition, he participated as a member in the 48th and 49th Ward Democratic Organizations, from 1968 to 1999. Spurred by early political success, Berman entered the race for Representative in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1966, a post he won and held until 1976. Shortly after, in 1977, Berman ran for and won 9th District post of Illinois Senator. Berman held the job until 1999, officially retiring in 2000 as the longest serving Democrat in the Illinois General Assembly.

In addition to his long career in Illinois politics, Berman maintained his status as an active attorney, beginning with the law firm White, White & Berman, a chartered group from 1958-1974. He also served as Special Attorney for the Bureau of Liquidations for the Illinois Department of Revenue from 1962 to 1967, and Special Assistant Illinois Attorney General from 1967-1968. Over the next 25 years of his political career, Berman also worked at five different law firms, and it was to law that Berman retired to when he left politics, serving as Attorney; Director of Labor Mediation Services for the Chicago Public Schools system. He began that post in 2000 and as of July 2003 holds it still.

Arthur L. Berman’s membership in organizations and committee work during his political and legal career is extensive. An abridged list includes the Democratic Party of Evanston, Chicago Urban League, Illinois CPA Society, Metropolitan Planning Council, Network 21, Education Advisory Board, American Judicature Society, Illinois Community and Residential Services Authority, Advisory Council CityPAC, Education Committee on the Assembly of the Legislature, Education and Job Training Committee of the State Federal Assembly, Professional Advisory Board, Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois, Board of Directors, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith Chicago Region, and the Rogers Park Community Council. From this shortened list, still apparent is Berman’s longtime interest in Illinois Education, where he championed, as State Senator Illinois, schools and tackled such issues as funding, parks, playgrounds, teachers, unions, crime, illiteracy, and special education. His interest and advocacy in these areas culminated in the passage of several school reforms into law and earned Berman the nickname of “The Education Senator.”