AUGUSTA (AP) — Jeanne Shorey Paquette on Tuesday won a solid endorsement from lawmakers for the state Department of Labor commissioner appointment by the governor, telling them she would bring a rich mix of private and public sector experience to the job.

“My entrepreneurial and business ownership experience serves me well in our work at the department,” Paquette told the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development before its 10-0 vote.

Paquette, who has led the department as deputy director since former Commissioner Robert Winglass retired last month, said the education she has received as a business owner and human resources professional “helps tremendously in managing and leading the Department of Labor.”

Five committees are meeting in the State House complex to take up a chunk of Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s 72 nominations. More confirmation hearings are scheduled for today before the Senate comes in Thursday to vote on the committee recommendations. Committees hold considerable influence in the process because it takes a two-thirds Senate vote to overturn a committee recommendation.

The Judiciary Committee voted without objections to endorse the renominations of Superior Court Justices Jeffrey Hjelm of Rockland, Thomas Humphrey of Portland and Thomas Warren of Portland to the bench. The only candidate who is not already a judge, John Lucy of Orono, won a 12-0 endorsement for District Court judge.

The education committee endorsed James Erwin of Yarmouth, Norman Fournier of Wallagrass and Mark Gardner of Kittery to the University of Maine System board of trustees and OK’d several appointments to boards that oversee the community college system, Maine Maritime Academy and other boards.