Bernson Urges Twice-Weekly Debates With Korenstein : Runoff: The councilman’s proposal is considered unusual for an incumbent. A spokesman for the challenger calls it ‘stupid’ but doesn’t rule it out entirely.

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson, forced into a June runoff election, on Thursday challenged opponent Julie Korenstein to a series of twice-weekly debates in the final month of the campaign.

A Korenstein spokesman called the proposal for eight debates “grandstanding” and “pretty stupid” but did not reject it completely.

Bernson and Korenstein, a Los Angeles school board member, are fighting to represent the northwest San Fernando Valley’s 12th District.

Bernson’s call for the series of debates is considered unusual since incumbents typically strive to deny public exposure to challengers.

Bernson spokesman Greig Smith said the debates were proposed in the belief that Korenstein is “totally out of step with the district and we want voters to see that.”

Bernson was forced into the June 4 runoff because he failed to win a majority of votes in the April 9 primary election. The veteran councilman led the balloting against five challengers but drew slightly less than 34.7% of the vote, the lowest percentage of any council incumbent in 20 years.

Korenstein, who has attacked Bernson for his support of the massive Porter Ranch development north of Chatsworth, finished second with 29.1%.

The two candidates have agreed to participate in a joint interview scheduled to be broadcast May 29 on the 5 p.m. Channel 7 news and a live, one-hour debate at 9 a.m. May 30 on KGIL-AM radio.

They also are negotiating over a possible joint appearance on Channel 2, said Parke Skelton, a Korenstein spokesman.

In a news release, Bernson said Thursday that voters in the district “deserve to hear, firsthand, the differences between my challenger and myself. These differences can best be articulated through a series of personal debates . . . .”

He said that community organizations will be asked to sponsor the debates.

Skelton said that Korenstein welcomes the opportunity to square off with Bernson, who was accused by all five primary opponents of avoiding joint appearances with them.

“But obscure high school cafeterias are not the place to get the kind of exposure needed in this campaign,” he added. “Eight debates like that would be pretty stupid. Bernson is just grandstanding.”

Skelton said that “50 times as many people will hear the KGIL debate as would ever go to one of the local debates he is proposing.”

Nonetheless, Skelton said Korenstein is “not totally rejecting the idea of more debates. We’re open to any serious proposal.”