The political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the Alki Foundation, released its local political endorsements.

In the Seattle mayoral race, particularly, the endorsement could have been a coup for either the incumbent, Greg Nickels, or the business-friendly longtime Seattle City Councilmember Jan Drago. Both are vying for the business community's support. But the Alki Foundation hedged its bets and issued a dual endorsement of both Drago and Nickels.

Drago, of course, was recently was a candidate for the chamber's top job.

The group didn't endorse two other business-friendly candidates: business executive Joe Mallahan, who last week issued a press release calling for repeal of the much-maligned "head tax" paid by businesses in Seattle, and small business owner and longtime chamber member James Donaldson, who, at the Alki Foundation breakfast candidate forum last month, said the chamber was like "family" to him.

The foundation also endorsed two candidates in the King County executive race: State Sen. Fred Jarrett and County Councilmember Larry Phillips.

Both challengers to longtime Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata won the foundation's endorsement. Architect Marty Kaplan is a longtime member of the downtown business community, but the foundation also gave a nod to Jessie Israel, who works for King County parks.

It endorsed Councilmember Richard Conlin for the position he already holds. He has one challenger.

Sally Bagshaw won an endorsement for her bid for the seat currently held by Drago. And in Position 8, which is being vacated by Richard McIver, the group co-endorsed Jordan Royer and Robert Rosencrantz.

Democratic legislative districts all over town are in the throes of interviewing candidates for endorsements.

But in the the mayor's race, the next interesting endorsement to watch is the Sierra Club's. The environmental group has supported many of Nickels' environmental initiatives, but Nickels is being challenged by former local club Chairman Michael McGinn.