Dory Waxman, one of three candidates running for an at-large seat on the Portland City Council, announced a slate of endorsements today.

Waxman and Tina Smith are challenging incumbent Ed Suslovic's re-election bid.

Waxman said she's been endorsed by Maine AFL-CIO; Southern Maine Central Labor Council; the Portland teachers', firefighters' and longshoremen's unions; Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council; Carpenters Local 1996; Iron Workers Local 7; Sheetmetal Workers Local 17; and United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 716.

Waxman worked as a community organizer for Ocean Properties Inc., which had strong union support in its failed bid for the $100 million Maine State Pier redevelopment project.

And, while Portland's municipal elections are nonpartisan, Waxman has been endorsed by the four Democrats (in addition to Suslovic) on the nine-member council: Jim Cohen, Jill Duson, Nick Mavodones and Dan Skolnik.

Suslovic, who is serving as mayor this year, has been endorsed by the League of Young Voters and the Portland Community Chamber, according to his Web site.

Smith, who is a member of the Green Independent party, has no endorsements listed on her Web site.

At this late quarter in the political season, a little bit of attention starts to go to the scoreboard.

Specifically, candidates start talking about endorsements, those (sometimes) prized expressions of support.

They come from all corners, typically unions, non profits, interest groups and yes, newspapers.

(Note - here in Political Extra you will not be getting in depth explanations of how the Press Herald's endorsement process works. The editorial board is shielded away like the judges behind the Oscars. You'd have an easier time trying to crack the inner circle of The Illuminati. I've personally got no idea how the process works. Those of us on the outside find out the same time you do - when you see it in the paper.)

But what do endorsements mean?

Let's look at a quick tally from some organizations:

Senate Race

Sen. Susan Collins (R): National Federation of Independent Businesses, Business and Professional Women's Political Action Committee, The League of Conservation Voters

Rep. Tom Allen (D): Planned Parenthood, Portsmouth Metal Trades Council, Maine Education Association

District 1 Race

Charlie Summers (R): U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, National Federation of Independent Business

Chellie Pingree (D): Maine State Nurses Association, Maine State Employees Association, The Sierra Club

So what does this tell us? Tough to say really, as in some cases organizations don't endorse strictly by party. The League of Conservation Voters endorsed Pingree. In 2002 Planned Parenthood endorsed Collins over Pingree.

Let's put the question out there - what's the value of endorsements and what do they symbolize?

Note - We can agree on one thing. All of these candidates are better off than U.S. Rep Tim Mahoney. The Democratic congressman from Florida was endorsed by the Palm Beach Post last Sunday, but took it back by last Thursday. Rooney is currently under investigation for paying off a former staffer (and mistress) to avoid a sexual harassment lawsuit.

I didn't have enough room in my story today to include one other point of contention from yesterday's GOP debate at the PPH.

During the sometimes heated discussion, Dean Scontras raised the question of whether his opponent, Charlie Summers, has inaccurately claimed the endorsement of former President George H.W. Bush.

Democratic congressional candidate Mark Lawrence said this afternoon that he's gotten the endorsement of a big name in York County politics.

Dennis "Duke" Dutremble of Biddeford, a former state Senate president, endorsed Lawrence during a news conference at the recently renovated North Dam Mill in Biddeford.

"From high gas prices to health care, Mark Lawrence best understands the pressures facing working and middle class families in Maine," Dutremble said in a written statement.

Lawrence, the York County district attorney and also a former state Senate president, is one of six Democrats and two Republicans in the race to succeed Democratic Rep. Tom Allen.

– Kevin Wack

Voters will go to the polls in a little more than a month, and the endorsements are really starting to fly in the 1st Congressional District race.

On Wednesday, Democrat Adam Cote announced that he's gotten the nod from the Maine Association of Police.

Democrat Chellie Pingree said that she's the choice of The League, also known as the League of Young Voters.

– Kevin Wack

Democrat Chellie Pingree's campaign for Congress announced a labor endorsement this afternoon.

The Maine State United Auto Workers' Community Action Program Council, based at Bath Iron Works, endorsed Pingree, one of eight candidates in the 1st District race.

Pingree is herself a member of the UAW – the National Writers' Union/UAW Local 1981.

"We endorsed her because she's a UAW member," said Beverly Harris, the council's president, "and she supports our views."

Harris said that most of the UAW's members in Maine work at Bath Iron Works, where the union has around 900 members.

– Kevin Wack