Peter Cianchette dropped out of the Republican primary race for governor Monday clearing the way for Sen. Peter Mills of Cornerville and others who are likely to announce now that the frontrunner has stepped aside.

Cianchette, who ran an unsuccessful campaign against Gov. John Baldacci in 2002, said he made his decision when he realized just how much time he would have to spend away from his family.

“I have a 13- and 11-year-old at home,” Cianchette said. “While I may have a chance to seek public office again someday, I only have one time to be with my children.”

While most politicians said on the record they respected his decision to put family first, there were questions about why Cianchette, a seasoned politician who ran Pres. George Bush’s re-election campaign in Maine, made an about-face just three weeks after he formally announced.

Gov. Baldacci, through his spokesperson, Lee Umphrey, said Cianchette’s announcement wouldn’t affect his campaign.

“The governor will run for re-election on his record. Regardless of who he is opposing, he’s going to run the same campaign,” Umphrey said.

Umphrey said it was unfortunate Cianchette had to be so negative on his way out. In his press announcement, Cianchette said under Baldacci, “state government is bankrupting our future. Our economic future and the state our children and grandchildren will inherit are being compromised by a governor who lacks a vision.”

Umphrey shot back with some barbs of his own.

“The governor beat him the last time and Peter ran an unsuccessful Bush re-elelction campaign. It doesn’t matter much if Peter’s in the race or not,” Umphrey said.

The other Peter – Mills of Somerset County – was the only Republican officially in the race as of Monday afternoon.

“What I feel good about is I’m two months into this and I’ve never wavered from moving straight ahead,” Mills said. The six-term legislator known for working both sides of the aisle – most recently on overturning $447 million in borrowing in the state budget – said, “I know how to bring efficiency to state government. …And that’s the key to controlling costs.”

Asked if he thought others would jump in now that Cianchette was out, Mills said, “I think there might be a couple others.” That won’t change his strategy, however, which is to personally meet as many voters as possible before Election Day. That will either be the June primary or the general election in November 2006, depending on how far he goes.

“I’m in this thing to stay,” Mills said. “I got in because I’m serious.”

Sen. Chandler Woodcock, R-Franklin, was considering a run before Cianchette’s announcement and said Monday he would decide very soon.

“I haven’t made a commitment to run. I’m not a candidate at this time. The story today is Peter Cianchette,” Woodcock said. “I’m not a candidate, but there’s going to be a statement shortly.”

Sen. Paul Davis, minority leader in the Senate, also had talked about running earlier this year. On Monday he too said the story should be about Cianchette.

“I think Peter did a lot of soul searching,” and decided “it was too much for his family, wife and children. I respect him and I think he did the right thing,” Davis said.

Former Sen. Richard Bennett of Norway, who was being encouraged to run by members of the party, was more direct.

“No,” he said when asked if he was reconsidering his earlier decision not to run. “I didn’t make the decision based on what other people might or might not do.”

Conservative radio commentator, Ray Richardson of Westbrook, had been pushing for Bennett to run over the air waves.

On Monday he said Cianchette did the right thing.

“I’m very proud of Peter because he could have dragged this thing out. He did a very leadership thing here,” Richardson said.

Asked what happens now that the obvious frontrunner is out of the race, Richardson said, “This gets awfully interesting.”