By Glenn Adams,Associated Press Writer

AUGUSTA – Peter Cianchette said Monday he’s dropping out of the race for Maine governor, citing family considerations for his decision that leaves one other prominent Republican among those seeking the party’s 2006 nomination.

Cianchette said that after several months of campaigning, he determined that the commitment required for a yearlong campaign and then to govern the state is greater than he can give at this time.

“While I believed I entered this race with my eyes wide open, I now realize that I was blind to what is most important to me at this time – being totally present and available to be with family,” said Cianchette, who is married and has 13- and 11-year-old children.

The former legislator from South Portland, who lost the 2002 Blaine House election to Democrat John Baldacci in a four-way race, said he has not decided whether he will support another candidate in 2006, or to what level he will become involved in the campaign.

A declared candidate for the GOP nomination, state Sen. Peter Mills of Cornville, said Cianchette’s decision “makes life a little smoother for me.”

But Mills, who has been campaigning steadily for two months, said he must still continue to make appearances all over the state to build name recognition. Mills, expressing anticipation the GOP field will evolve, said he continues to believe he will have competition for his party’s nomination.

“I need to continue doing what I’ve been doing,” said Mills, who seeking to qualify for public campaign funding under Maine’s Clean Election law.

Another Republican state senator, Chandler Woodcock of Farmington, was undecided going into this month whether he would run. A message left at Woodcock’s home was not immediately returned Monday.

Stephen Stimpson of Bangor, a Republican, has filed for public funding for the gubernatorial campaign, as has independent Nancy Oden of Jonesboro.

In announcing his departure from the race, Cianchette took a final jab at his former rival Baldacci, saying the incumbent’s defeat “is critically important to putting Maine back on the right track.

“Under his lack of leadership, state government is bankrupting our future, and our state budget has far exceeded our ability to pay for it,” Cianchette’s statement said.

Baldacci aide Lee Umphrey responded that those harsh criticisms come from somebody who lost to Baldacci in the 2002 gubernatorial race, and two years later saw President Bush lose his re-election campaign in Maine while Cianchette chaired the president’s state campaign.

“It is unfortunate he didn’t leave on a high note,” said Umphrey, adding that Baldacci “is going to stand on his record, is proud of the direction the state is going and is looking forward to four more years.”

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