PROVIDENCE –– Let the campaigning begin.

The secretary of state’s office last night certified the nomination papers for 236 General Assembly candidates, the last step — barring objections — in determining which politicians will appear on the ballot this fall.

There were few surprises reported last night. As was largely expected, most elected officials want to keep their jobs on Smith Hill.

Just 3 of 38 senators and 10 members in the 75-seat House are not running for reelection, despite predictions that many lawmakers would give up public service following a difficult legislative session dominated by the state’s fiscal woes. The state’s money problems will likely continue to dominate Smith Hill affairs in the coming session as well.

The secretary of state’s office confirmed last night that at least one incumbent senator made a last-minute decision to leave the General Assembly. The decision, however, had little to do with the state budget.

Kevin A. Breene, a longtime West Greenwich Republican legislator and town manager, submitted the necessary signatures last month to seek another term in District 34. But that was before the cows came home.

A dairy farmer by trade, Breene said he got an unexpected opportunity last month to purchase 50 cows from a friend. He decided he couldn’t handle both the added work, plus his duties in the Senate.

“It was a tough decision to leave, but I’m following my heart on this and my heart is being a farmer,” he said last night.

The battle for Breene’s seat will now play out between Republican Frances T. Maher Jr. and Independent Jonathan Osborne.

Breene’s decision leaves the state Republican Party, which has long been fighting for Smith Hill relevance amid Democratic domination, down yet another incumbent Assembly member.

On the House side, 4 of 13 Republicans aren’t seeking reelection. On the Senate side, Breene’s absence leaves just four Republican incumbents.

Despite the numbers, GOP state Chairman Giovanni Cicione is optimistic.

“This is a year where it’s going to be easy to replace a Republican [with another Republican candidate],” he said, referring to the state’s fiscal problems that some blame in part on the Democrat-dominated Assembly, according to a recent poll. “You always hope your incumbent stays, but you’re talking about a handful of races… And they’re strong Republican districts.”

Further, the state Republican Party is continuing to fight to get five disputed GOP candidates on the ballot.

Cicione said the party plans to amend a filing with the state Supreme Court later today. Several local boards of canvassers denied nomination papers to five Republican candidates last month, because, the boards said, the papers were filed in the wrong location.

Meanwhile, on the House side, last night’s reports confirmed that 20-year State House veteran Rep. Steven F. Smith, D-Providence, will not seek reelection in District 13. He had submitted the necessary signatures, but said he opted out of politics because of mounting frustration with the Assembly’s reluctance to roll back tax cuts for high earners.

That means Democrat John Carnevale has no opponent for the seat, although that’s one of the seats Republicans are seeking to have a candidate put on the ballot.

Twelve of the Senate’s 38 races are uncontested. All the seats are held by Democrats, with the exception of Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere’s District 38 seat. And 22 of the House’s 75 races are uncontested, all involve incumbent Democrats, except for Rep. Joseph A. Trillo, of District 24, and Rep. John J. Loughlin, of District 71.

Most of the legislature’s top leaders have opponents:

House Speaker William J. Murphy is an exception. He had been set to face off in a Democratic primary against fellow lawyer Michael Lombardi, although Lombardi withdrew from the race, declining to say why.

Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano will compete against Edward J. O’Neill, running as an independent. A one-time candidate for Lincoln town administrator, O’Neill also heads a local taxpayer group.

Running against House Majority Leader Gordon Fox is education consultant David Anderson, a Republican. Anderson is chief executive of Asora Education and is involved with the Ocean State Policy Research Institute.

Rounding out the leadership, House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino will run unopposed, though his counterpart in the Senate, Stephen D. Alves, faces two Democrats.

And while last night marked the final major deadline for candidates seeking state office seats, several important deadlines remain.

Today at 4 p.m. is the deadline for anyone to file a challenge to last night’s results. And todayat 5 p.m., Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis will hold a State House lottery to determine the order in which unendorsed candidates for Congress and the General Assembly will appear on primary ballots. The lottery will also set the order in which recognized political parties and independent candidates will appear on the November ballot.

To see a full list of candidates, check the secretary of state’s Web site: www.sec.state.ri.us/elections/election08.html

Primary elections are scheduled for Sept. 9 with the general election to follow Nov. 4.

–– With reports from staff writer Cynthia Needham

speoples@projo.com