Bernardi Falls, Hits Head; Is Hospitalized

Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi, suffering from a flu-like virus, was hospitalized Wednesday after fainting and hitting his head on the floor at his Van Nuys home.

Bernardi, 77, was conscious and talking to family members after receiving five stitches to his head at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Panorama City, a hospital spokeswoman said.

He was admitted to the hospital for observation. “They just want to check to make sure everything is all right,” said Bernardi’s wife, Lucille.

The councilman, who has been home sick with the virus for several days, was preparing a Jell-O dish in the kitchen when he went to answer the telephone, she said.

“He became dizzy and fell and hit his head,” hospital spokeswoman Karen Large added. He was taken to the hospital’s emergency facilities, then admitted.

The councilman was in the hospital’s coronary care unit, but “it was only to give him privacy,” said David Mays, an aide to the councilman.

Mays, who was with the councilman at the hospital, said Bernardi is in “fine spirits.” He said Bernardi’s doctor has advised him that he can walk around.

Bernardi, dean of the City Council with 27 years of service, had been working on city business at home, said Gayle Johnson, a member of his staff.

“He just didn’t want to believe it’s OK for a person to feel weak and stay in bed when they are sick and have a temperature,” Lucille Bernardi said.

Bernardi, a former jazz band saxophonist and building contractor, faces a reelection campaign in April in the northeast San Fernando Valley’s 7th District.

Plans to Seek Reelection

Last year, Bernardi was considering giving up his seat to spend more time with his wife, who was ill. But he recently said that his wife’s health has improved and that he plans to seek reelection.

Latino political activists have said they plan to run for the seat because of the 1986 council redistricting that established a Latino majority in the district, which includes Sylmar, Pacoima, Arleta and sections of Mission Hills, Lake View Terrace, Sepulveda, Panorama City, Van Nuys, Sun Valley and North Hollywood.

The short, bald and bespectacled Bernardi has built a reputation over the years for challenging the city bureaucracy. An ardent cost-cutter, his is often the lone dissenting vote on council roll calls.

Times staff writer Stephanie Chavez contributed to this story.