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Phil Berger

Office District Status
S. Minority Leader N.C. Senate 26 Incumbent
Party In Office Since Term Ends
Republican 2000 2010
Level of Government  
N.C. Senate  
Date of Birth Birthplace Now Lives In
August 8, 1952 New Rochelle, NY Eden, NC

Synopsis

Phil Berger is the Senate minority leader and one of the most visible faces of the Republican opposition in the legislature. After growing up in Virginia, Berger moved to North Carolina to go to law school and worked in Charlotte and Raleigh before becoming an Eden lawyer. After losing a state House race in 1994, he was elected to the Senate in 2000 and became minority leader in 2004. In 2008, he successfully fended off two challengers to remain in the post for a third term.

Trivia

His son, Philip Jr., is the district attorney of Rockingham County. 

Endorsements

Biography

Marital Status
Married
Spouse
Patricia
Children
Daughter, Ashley; and sons, Philip Jr., Kevin

Phil Berger is a Republican state senator from Eden and the Senate minority leader.

Early Life and Education

Philip Edward Berger was born Aug. 8, 1952, in New Rochelle, N.Y., to Francis and Eunice Berger. His father was a factory worker; his mother, a homemaker. 

His family moved to southern Virginia when he was a toddler. 

He graduated from George Washington High in Danville, Va., in 1970.

He then studied at Danville Community College, then earned a bachelor of science in sociology at Averett College (now University) in 1980.

He then went to Wake Forest University School of Law, graduating in 1982.

Professional Career

After college, he practiced law in Charlotte and clerked for a year at the N.C. Court of Appeals for Judge Eugene Phillips.

In 1984, he moved to Eden and joined a law practice, Walker Melvin and Berger.

In 2001, he left to start his own practice, focusing on general practice.

Political Career

He served on the Rockingham County Board of Elections during Gov. Jim Martin's administration.

In 1994, he ran for the state House, losing in the Republican primary to Wayne Sexton.

In 2000, he won an open seat in the legislature.

After the 2004 election, he became the Senate minority leader, chairing meetings of the Republican caucus, working on bills with Republican senators and serving as the public face of the GOP opposition. 

In November of 2008, he successfully fended off two challengers to remain in the post for a third term.

Research and reporting by Ryan Teague Beckwith.

Occupation

Attorney
Berger Law Firm






Community Involvement:
Not specified.

Contact Info

Email: philbe@ncleg.net

N.C. Senate
16 W. Jones Street, Room 1026, Raleigh, N.C. 27601-2808
919-733-5708
Eden Office
P.O. Box 1309, Eden, N.C. 27289-1309
336-623-5210


Education

bachelor of science
Averett College
Graduated: 1980
juris doctorate
Wake Forest University
Graduated: 1982


Military

Not specified.
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