Bernardi’s Fund Advantage Less Than Most Incumbents

Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi has raised more money than his leading challengers in the northeast San Fernando Valley’s 7th District race, but less than incumbents normally raise, campaign reports showed Friday.

Bernardi raised $54,486 between Jan. 1 and March 25, while challengers Lyle Hall and Jules S. Bagneris III amassed $41,505 and $23,180, respectively, during the same period.

Usually, council members raise more money than all their opponents combined. Councilwoman Joy Picus has banked $197,465--four times the amount collected by her five opponents combined in the West Valley’s 3rd District.

Bernardi has been outspent in the past. In 1981, his leading opponent raised $115,000 to his $86,000. Bernardi won with 76% of the vote.

But this year, Bernardi is running in a largely new district, which the City Council carved out in 1986. He faces seven challengers, the most in his 28-year council career.

Forcing a Runoff

The seven challengers hope to collectively pull in enough votes to force Bernardi into a runoff. A candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win the April 11 election. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters meet in a June runoff.

Hall appears to be the leading challenger. He is a 49-year-old Los Angeles Fire Department captain and former president of the Los Angeles city firefighters union who is supported by labor in a district with substantial union membership. Bagneris, 28, is president of the Lake View Terrace Home Owners Assn.

Al Dib reported raising $4,309 since Jan. 1. He raised an additional $14,725 last year, but $10,000 of that was his own money. Statements for challengers James Braun, Barry Gribs and Irene Tovar were not available. Richard Yanez has withdrawn from the race, but his name will still appear on the ballot.

Some of Hall’s money paid for a hard-hitting campaign mailer that will begin arriving at homes today. It attacks the 77-year-old Bernardi’s absentee rate.

“During the past 18 months, Ernie Bernardi has been absent from City Council duties over 20% of the time,” the mailer says. “. . . don’t we deserve a full-time city councilman who can, and will, devote 100% of his time to solving our district’s problems?

“And Ernie Bernardi has made it even harder to hire more police and firefighters because he consistently votes to reduce their benefits and working conditions,” the mailer says.

Bernardi said of the mailer Friday: “None of it is true.”

Bernardi said he has fully recovered from illness that forced him to miss 29 of 135 council meetings between Feb. 1, 1988, and Jan. 31, 1989. He said he missed some of the meetings to care for his ailing wife, but still tended to city business from home.

“I feel just as spry as I have ever felt,” he said.

Pension Measure

Bernardi sponsored a 1980 measure limiting police and firefighter pensions, but pointed out that it was overwhelmingly approved by the voters. “In spite of that, Los Angeles police and firefighters are the highest paid and have the best pensions in the United States,” he said.

“I’m raising enough money to run what I think is a good campaign,” Bernardi said. “I have never been in the upper class when it comes to raising money because I guess I’m independent.”

In the 3rd District, Picus was far ahead of Peter Ireland, who raised $20,713, and Jeanne Nemo, who raised $20,025.

Other candidates and their amounts are Ron Rich, $9,890, of which $7,000 is a bank loan; Mort Diamond, $5,104, and Paul McKellips, $4,162.

The reports show that Picus, a 12-year councilwoman, is taking the race seriously. She reported spending $158,870.