Washington, DC - Rep. Dick Gephardt today announced that he has received the endorsement of the Northeastern Oklahoma Labor Council (NOLC). The NOLC voted Thursday night to endorse Rep. Dick Gephardt for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

"Dick Gephardt has stood behind working men and women for 25 years as a Member of Congress - and not just labor union members but all working people. Now it's time we stand behind him," said Andy Frye, a Steelworker and member of the NOLC executive board.

"Representative Gephardt is the one Democratic presidential candidate who has demonstrated long-standing concern for working families. He has earned the support of our Council," said Tom Albaugh, NOLC vice president.

The NOLC is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and is a consortium of more than 20 unions in northeastern Oklahoma.

Gephardt also announced additional Sooner State Supporters, part of his "Ten Weeks 'til Tuesday" effort, a running tally of Oklahoma supporters of his presidential campaign. "Ten Weeks 'til Tuesday" builds on Rep. Gephardt's already impressive list of Democratic Party leaders and community activists that make up the Gephardt Sooner State Supporters. Additional Sooner State Supporters will be announced every Tuesday until Oklahoma Presidential Primary on Tuesday, February 3rd.

           Sooner State Supporters for Week of December 16, 2003:

                Dewayne Askew, Farmer, Tonkawa
                Charlie Beam, Small business owner, Poteau
                Patricia Blubaugh, Democratic Activist, Ponca City
                Albert Brown, Pushmataha County Clerk, Antlers
                Duwayne Bryant, CP Kelco employee, Schulter
                Christina Buck, Farmer, Cherokee
                Kathy Campbell, Democratic Activist, Tulsa
                Jenny Beth Caraway, Pushmataha County Treasurer, Antlers
                Barbara Gilbertson, Rancher, McAlester
                Kevin Hammack, Democratic Activist and Member TWU Local 514, Broken Arrow
                Reno Hammond, Business Manager, Laborers' Local 107 and AR/OK District Council, Tulsa
                Taylor Hembree, Vice President, Farmers Union Local 306, Tonkawa
                Somelea Jackson, TU Young Democrat, Tulsa
                Tom Kennedy, Farmer, Salt Fork
                Gary Ketchum, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 523, Tulsa
                Shawn Kramer, Business Owner, Henryetta
                Randy McDonald, President TWU Local 514, Skiatook
                Larry McFarland, Democratic Activist, Poteau
                Northeastern Oklahoma Labor Council, Tulsa
                Mike Peterson, Rancher, Marland
                Scott Powders, Asst. Training Coordinator, IUOE Local 2, Henryetta
                Norman Rogers, Civic Leader, Henryetta
                Denise Sumpter, Democratic Activist, Wister