Dem Dean Counts on City Union

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By STEFAN C. FRIEDMAN and ED ROBINSON

September 24, 2003 -- The head of one of the state's most influential labor unions held a fund-raiser in Midtown yesterday for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, sending a strong signal that the former Vermont governor will get his endorsement.

Dennis Rivera, the leader of Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, held the fund-raiser at the 200,000-member health-care workers union headquarters on West 42nd Street.

Dean is the only candidate for whom Rivera is raising cash. About 100 people paid between $100 to $1,000 to attend.

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Rivera, a former member of the Democratic National Committee, is also a key member of the union's national leadership. The national union has said it is too early yet to offer an endorsement.

http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/40635.htm