The Berger Years: Leave it to Berger

Nov. 22—Not many candidates can say they had the endorsement of "Leave it to Beaver" television stars Tony Dow and Barbara Billingsley while running for office.

David Berger can.

According to a 1989 story in The Lima News, as Berger was making his initial run for mayor, he was contacted by Tony Dow and his wife, Lauren. The Dows wanted to purchase movie rights to a story about women inmates who were rebuilding homes for the Rehab Project in Lima, of which Berger was the director.

The Dows, Billingsley and Berger hit it off.

It wasn't long after that the Dows offered to produce television commercials for Berger's campaign. Both Dow and Billingsley volunteered their time. To ensure there was no corporate gift to the campaign, a cameraman and audio technician used their own equipment and also volunteered their services.

Five minutes of time was then bought at a cost of $53 from Universal Studios in Florida.

Dow starred as Wally Cleaver in the popular TV series that aired from 1957 to 1963 and still can be found on cable networks today. Billingsley starred as June Cleaver.

Berger recalled, "We called the commercials 'Leave it to Berger' instead of 'Leave it to Beaver.'"