Jon Hinck

UPDATED  

The Portland League of Young Voters has endorsed a slate of legislative and national candidates for the general election.

The League has a registered political action committee which had $12,515 in its coffers as of July 22, the most recent data available.

The candidates are:

This year there were seven legislators in the Maine delegation to the Democratic National Convention, more than in recent history.

PolitickerME had the opportunity to talk with four state lawmakers at the delegation breakfast Thursday. State Rep. Elaine Makas (D-Lewiston) and Maine House Majority Leader Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven) are Obama delegates, and Rep. Cynthia Dill (D-Cape Elizabeth) and Sen. Phillip Bartlett (D-Gorham) are Clinton delegates.

In addition, Reps. Jon Hinck (D-Portland), Christopher Babbidge (D-Kennebunk) and Linda Valentino (D-Saco) spent the week in Denver.

Maine’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are on both sides of the fence when it comes to having a roll call vote for Hillary Clinton.

Presumptive nominee Barack Obama’s campaign made the announcement along with Clinton’s campaign that Clinton’s name will be submitted for nomination in the first round of balloting.

Before the announcement was officially made, PolitickerME sent out an e-mail survey to all of the elected DNC delegates.

Two Clinton supporters responded, and both favored a roll call vote. Seven Obama supporters responded. Three favored a roll call, three opposed it and one would not comment on the issue.

Other coverage: Maine’s third party: A look at the influence of the state’s Green Independent Party; History, barriers and misconceptions; The candidates; Coming: The Greens’ influence on the city council

Below video: City Counciler Dave Marshall and former state House candidate Jeff Ferland talk about the local impact of the Green Party

Prior to the year 2000, the Democrats dominated Portland government. A group of citizens decided they needed to be challenged.

It wasn’t the Republicans...

UPDATED 4:45 PM with comments from Rep. Jeremy Fischer

With presidential candidates John Edwards and Rudy Giuliani dropping out so close to the Maine caucuses, supporters are looking to other candidates.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud endorsed Edwards in October. Spokeswoman Monica Castellanos said he will back another candidate, she’s just not sure who or when.

Rumford attorney Seth Carey has put his lawsuit against several Maine shopping establishments on hold, he said Tuesday.

Carey sued Wal-Mart and Hannaford, along with several malls and cities to allow petitioners on private properties to gather signatures.  read more »

A debate over petitioners’ rights halted in the Legislature when a lawsuit was filed in Oxford County Superior Court.

Rep. Jon Hinck, D-Portland, had sponsored the bill to allow petitioners on private property such as malls and supermarkets last year. He maintains that the Legislature is a better forum than the courts to debate the matter.

Seth Carey, a Rumford lawyer spearheading the movement to allow a resort casino in Oxford County, filed the lawsuit mid-December. The bill had been held over in the Legislature, and he said he couldn’t wait for results.