Berman skips State of the Union speech to stay in L.A.
Rep. Howard Berman, locked in a contentious race with fellow Democratic Rep. Brad Shermanfor the same San Fernando Valley congressional district seat, isn’t on hand for the president’s State of Union speech tonight. His staff says he’s right here in L.A., mixing work with a little campaigning.
While many members of Congress from both sides of the aisle attend the annual speech and often comment on it afterward, that’s never been Berman’s style, said Gene Smith, who retired from Berman’s House staff and took on a new role as his campaign manager.
“Howard’s a workhorse, not a show horse,” Smith said in a gentle swipe at Sherman.
--Jean Merl, Los Angeles Times
Photo: Reps. Howard L. Berman, left, and Brad Sherman. Credit: Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times