Bernardi Says He Will Face Foes in Forum

In a sign that he is facing his toughest race, Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi took the unusual step Tuesday of agreeing to face his challengers in a public forum.

City Council members traditionally duck candidate forums because such events tend to give challengers an opportunity to gang up on the incumbent.

But the 77-year-old Bernardi is in a largely new northeast San Fernando Valley district that was carved out by the City Council in 1986. Compounding his woes, seven challengers--the most of his 28-year political career--are opposing him in the April 11 election.

“I think he is in a tough race,” said Steve Afriat, a veteran City Hall political consultant. “There is a large number of constituents who are unfamiliar with him because of reapportionment.”

Bernardi said he was concerned that his opponents’ attacks on him for refusing to appear with them might have some impact.

Opponents have charged that Bernardi is afraid to face them. The councilman denied this and said he had avoided forums so far because they have been sponsored by his foes.

In agreeing to face the other candidates, Bernardi laid down stiff terms, including refusing to answer questions from the audience and insisting that he be permitted to speak last.

He said he would meet his challengers only once and would not participate in a debate format but would answer questions asked by a panel he felt was impartial. He also said the forum must be sponsored by what he considers an impartial group, such as the League of Women Voters.

“There’s no way you can debate with seven people,” he said at a press conference in his City Hall office. “How can you debate when I’m the target?”

“I’m only interested in discussing the issues,” he said. “All they’re doing is criticizing me without saying what they would do different.”

Some of Bernardi’s opponents said they welcomed a chance to confront Bernardi before an audience.

“I look forward to the opportunity to discuss the issues with him,” said Lyle Hall, a labor-backed Los Angeles city firefighter and potentially Bernardi’s toughest challenger.

Hall, former president of the Los Angeles firefighters’ union, said he did not care what conditions Bernardi put on the meetings.

“I have not put any conditions on any of the appearances that I have made,” he said. “I walked into what was viewed as potentially unfriendly territory, but I felt that’s the system. . . . The purpose of having a candidates’ forum is so the public can ask questions and talk about items of concern to them.”

Challenger Jules Bagneris III, president of the Lake View Terrace Home Owners Assn., said Bernardi “has been last on showing leadership on a number of issues, so if he wants to be last at a debate, that’s no surprise. I don’t care if he goes first, if he goes in the middle, or if he goes last. I will be there.”