Berkley, Shelley, 1951-

<p>In 1998 Shelley Berkley, a former Nevada state legislator from Las Vegas, won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas. During her seven terms in Congress, Berkley focused on policies important to her district—water control, renewable energy, veterans’ issues, and regulations affecting the gaming and entertainment industries. Berkley also led opposition to the federal government’s plan to store nuclear waste in Nevada. “Ordinarily you’re [called] the Congresswoman from Nevada,” she said. “From the very beginning, I was the Congresswoman from Las Vegas. I mean, it was my hometown. I grew up here. I know it very, very well. I often say that it’s not so much that I grew up in Las Vegas, I grew up with Las Vegas.”</p>

<p>Shelley Berkley was born Rochelle Levine in New York City on January 20, 1951, to George and Estelle Levine. Her grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Europe who, she once said, “came off the boat as Democrats.” Berkley’s parents moved the family to Las Vegas when she was 11, and after graduating from Valley High School in Las Vegas, she became the first member of her family to attend college, graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in 1972; she earned a law degree from the University of San Diego Law School in 1976. She married Fred Berkley and raised two sons: Max and Sam. The couple divorced in 1995. In March 1999, she married nephrologist Larry Lehrner, who had two children from a previous marriage. Before entering politics, Berkley held a variety of jobs in the Las Vegas area, everything from keno runner to vice president for government and legal affairs at the Sands Hotel Casino. She also chaired the board of the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association.</p>

<p>Berkley cited her family’s immigrant history for why she moved into public service. “[I wanted] to give something back to this country for having taken my family in. It gave us not only an opportunity to survive but an opportunity to thrive, and we certainly have done that.” Berkley served in the Nevada state assembly from 1982 to 1985. Five years later, she was appointed to the board of regents of the university and community college system of Nevada. She twice won re-election to the board and served until 1998.</p>

<p>Rochelle "Shelley" Berkley (born Rochelle Levine; January 20, 1951) is an American politician and attorney. She served as U.S. Representative for Nevada's 1st congressional district from 1999 to 2013. In 2012, she was an unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate. She is a member of the Democratic Party.</p>

<p>Berkley was born Rochelle Levine in New York City, the daughter of Estelle (née Colonomos – see Kalonymus) and George Levine. Her paternal grandparents were Russian Jews and her mother's family were Sephardic Jews from Ottoman-era Thessaloniki, now in Macedonia, northern Greece.</p>

<p>Berkley moved with her family to Nevada when she was a junior high school student, attending Fremont Junior High. After completing high school, she became the first member of her family to attend college when she enrolled as an undergraduate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She became a member of Delta Zeta sorority. Elected student body president of the Consolidated Students of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas her senior year, Shelley graduated with honors in 1972, earning a B.A. in Political Science.</p>

<p>After obtaining her J.D. degree in 1976 from the University of San Diego School of Law, Shelley returned to Las Vegas and began her professional career. Berkley practiced law for several years, mainly as a member of the legal counsel for several Las Vegas casinos. She also served as the national director for the American Hotel-Motel Association.</p>