Andy Berke

Andy Berke
73rd Mayor of Chattanooga
Assumed office
April 15, 2013
Preceded by Ron Littlefield
Member of the Tennessee Senate
from the 10th district
In office
2007–2012
Preceded by Ward Crutchfield
Succeeded by Todd Gardenhire
Personal details
Born Andrew Lawrence Berke
(1968-03-31) March 31, 1968
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Monique Prado
Residence Chattanooga, Tennessee
Alma mater

Baylor School
Stanford University

University of Chicago Law School
Profession Attorney
Religion Jewish[1]

Andrew Lawrence Berke (born March 31, 1968) is an American attorney and Tennessee politician. He is the current Mayor of Chattanooga. He is a member of the Democratic Party and represented Hamilton and Marion counties in the 10th District as State Senator from 2007 to 2012. On March 5, 2013, Andy Berke became Chattanooga's Mayor Elect, and was inaugurated on April 15, 2013.[2]

Berke was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Marvin and Karen Berke. He has one sister, Julie. He attended the Baylor School in Chattanooga where he was a standout tennis player, and Stanford University where he met his wife, Monique. Mayor Berke currently lives in Chattanooga with his wife and their two daughters, Hannah and Orly.

Education and career

After graduating from Baylor School, a Chattanooga boarding high school, Andy attended Stanford University. After graduating from Stanford with honors, Berke worked as a legislative assistant for U.S. Congressman Bart Gordon.

Following his graduation from the University of Chicago Law School, he worked as a law clerk for Judge Deanell Reece Tacha of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Lawrence, Kansas. During this time he also taught at the University of Kansas School of Law as an adjunct professor.

Berke returned home to Chattanooga and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1994. He joined his family law practice in Chattanooga, which was founded in 1934 by his grandfather, the late Harry Berke.

Public office

Berke entered a 2007 special election to replace longtime state senator Ward Crutchfield and defeated Republican Oscar Brock, son of former U.S. Senator Bill Brock, with 63% to Brock's 37%. He was sworn into the Tennessee Senate on November 21, 2007. During the 105th General Assembly, Berke served as the secretary of the Senate Education Committee and as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee.

2008 Re-election

Berke won re-election on November 4, 2008 by defeating Republican Oscar Brock. He received over 70% of the vote. As a member of the 106th General Assembly, Senator Berke served as the secretary of the Senate Education Committee and as a member of the Senate Transportation committee. On November 24, 2008, Senator Berke was elected to be the Secretary/Treasurer of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

2012-13 Chattanooga City Mayoral campaign

On May 8, 2012 Berke officially announced he was running for Mayor of Chattanooga, Tennessee.[3] Berke became Chattanooga's Mayor Elect on March 5, 2013, and was inaugurated on April 15, 2013.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Sher, Andy (March 21, 2009). "Bunch’s ‘Nazi’ remark draws flak". Times Free Press. Retrieved 2012-05-24.
  2. 1 2 http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/mar/06/andy-berke-is-new-chattanooga-mayor/?local
  3. ↑ Hightower, Cliff (May 8, 2012). "Chattanooga: Andy Berke makes mayoral run official". Times Free Press. Retrieved 2012-05-24.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Ron Littlefield		 Mayor of Chattanooga
2013 - Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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