SEIU BACKS HAHN FOR MAYOR INCUMBENT WINS ENDORSEMENT OF KEY UNION.

Byline: James Nash Staff Writer

Mayor James Hahn's re-election bid was endorsed Thursday by City Hall's biggest labor union, whose members benefited this year from a contract guaranteeing their jobs.

Six Service Employees International Union locals followed the lead of the powerful SEIU Local 347, which represents about 10,000 Los Angeles municipal employees, in endorsing Hahn's re-election next year.

Local 347 recently signed a three-year contract that avoids layoffs and preserves benefits for city workers. The agreement provided no pay increase this year, but allows for raises totaling 6.25 percent by 2006-07 and bans private contracting to protect municipal jobs.

Julie Butcher, the head of Local 347, said Hahn supported the union through tough economic times.

``He may not be flamboyant, but he has been a steady hand in making sure the workers are taken care of and the services are maximized,'' Butcher said.

``Workers don't care about (personal charisma) as much as they care about what he does, which is enhancing public safety, getting trees trimmed and streets paved, building new libraries.''

Hahn also has supported other SEIU locals in preserving funds for in- home health care services and training for private security guards.

During the 2001 election, the SEIU locals split between Hahn and Antonio Villaraigosa, a labor-friendly former state Assembly speaker who is challenging Hahn in the March election.

A campaign aide to Villaraigosa, who now represents Northeast Los Angeles on the City Council, downplayed the effect of the union endorsement.

``It was expected,'' strategist Parke Skelton said. ``Traditionally the SEIU allows the union that would be most directly affected, which in this case is 347, to take the lead. We'll have a share of labor.''

Hahn's campaign consultant, Bill Carrick, said the support of unions representing an estimated 295,000 people will play a key role in the campaign.

``They're one of the best-organized political groups in the city,'' Carrick said. ``It's an enormous shot in the arm for the campaign.''

Hahn also has the support of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. The Police Protective League has not yet made an endorsement in the race.

In addition to Villaraigosa, Hahn faces City Councilman Bernard C. Parks, state Sen. Richard Alarcon, former Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg and attorney Walter Moore in the March 2005 election.

Alarcon, a Democrat with ties to labor, said he expects significant support from rank-and-file union members, if not their leaders.

Representatives of Hertzberg and Parks, who have positioned themselves as business-friendly Democrats, and Moore, a Republican, could not be reached for comment.

James Nash, [phone]

james.nash(at)dailynews.com