Bernardi Falls, Bumps Head at Home, Is Taken to Hospital

Los Angeles City Councilman Ernani Bernardi, suffering from the flu, was admitted to the hospital 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 spokesman said. He was admitted 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 flu for several days, was preparing food in the kitchen when he went to answer the telephone, Lucille Bernardi said.

“He became dizzy and fell and hit his head,” added hospital spokeswoman Karen Large. Bernardi was taken to the hospital’s coronary care unit, but David Mays, an aide to the councilman, said, “It was only to give him privacy.”

Bernardi, dean of the council with 27 years of service, has 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,” said his wife.

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

Last year, Bernardi was considering giving up his seat to spend more time with his wife, who was ill. But he recently said his wife’s health had improved and 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. The district 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, he is often the lone dissenting vote on council roll calls.

Staff writer Stephanie Chavez contributed to this story.