Review of Bernson’s Committee Is Sought

A political watchdog group said Friday it will ask authorities to review the activities of a controversial political committee that Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson said he plans to disband.

Lisa Foster, executive director of California Common Cause, said Bernson’s decision to shut down his “Bernson for Lt. Governor 1994 Committee” only underscores questions Common Cause has had about the committee, which began raising money in early 1989.

“We’ve been saying for a long time that he had no intention to run for lieutenant governor,” Foster said. “He set up the committee to get around the city’s campaign laws.” Common Cause is a group concerned with campaign finance issues.

“We certainly want to look at it,” she said. “I think it merits a second look by the city attorney’s office.”

Bernson, who has represented the north San Fernando Valley since 1979, denied that establishing the committee was a ruse to circumvent a City Charter section forbidding council members from raising more than $500 from any individual with the intent of spending the money to get reelected. The committee raised $179,525 for Bernson.

“We never had any problem with money, so we didn’t need to raise money” in violation of the law, Bernson said in an interview.

Bernson also said he was always “serious” about “exploring the possibility of running for lieutenant governor.”

“It’s not something I want to pursue now,” he said. “My work is here in Los Angeles and I want to complete some of the things I’ve started.” Bernson, whose term expires June 30, 1991, said he intends to seek reelection.

Bernson also said that the city attorney’s office, the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the state attorney general’s office had reviewed complaints previously lodged by Common Cause. “All of them took a look at it and found everything was lawful and proper,” Bernson said.

A review of the reports filed by the committee show that 73% of the $179,525 raised by the committee--$130,500--was raised from individuals contributing more than $500 each.

The reports say much of the money went for dinners with constituents and supporters, often at expensive restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

A review of the $17,235.49 in expenditures made by the committee and labeled “contributions” showed that $10,185 was given to charitable groups--Boy Scouts, Jewish temples, and YMCAs--that were listed in Bernson’s report as having addresses in the San Fernando Valley.