BREENE

WEST GREENWICH — Republican Kevin A. Breene has opted against running for a seventh term in the Senate, choosing instead to serve another constituency — his recently replenished herd of dairy cows.

Breene, who turns 52 tomorrow, was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and holds the District 34 seat, which also includes Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkinton and Richmond. He is the Senate minority whip.

He also owns and operates the Breene Hollow Farm, a dairy business to which he says he wants to devote more time. (He plans, though, to continue serving as West Greenwich’s town administrator.)

Breene said he had reduced the herd substantially after suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon in 2000. But last month, he took advantage of an unexpected opportunity to buy more animals, increasing the herd to about 80.

What sealed his decision to put paid to his Senate career, though, came at the end of this year’s General Assembly session. Business on the final Friday stretched into Saturday, and Breene had to leave Smith Hill for the milking barn.

“I’ve really enjoyed the last 12 years, but I’ve been a farmer all my life. I had a chance to get back into it,” Breene said. “I can’t do everything. I’m going to miss a lot of it. I can’t be milking the cows and be in Providence at the same time. I was… a Senator dairy farmer and I just wore myself too thin. It’s time to let somebody else give it a try.”

Two candidates will vie for that chance in November. They are Republican Francis T. Maher, of Exeter, a member of the Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee, and Jonathan R. Osborne, a political independent from Hopkinton. Both have qualified for the ballot.

In the Senate, Breene sits on the Environment and Agriculture Committee and the Housing and Municipal Government Committee. He has served on the Corporations and Labor committees.

He has introduced legislation to benefit farmers and senior citizens and to preserve natural resources and protect water supplies.

Breene, a graduate of the University of Connecticut, has served on West Greenwich’s Zoning Board of Review and on the Town Council, which he headed for 12 years. He was appointed town administrator, a new post, in 2002.

State Republican Chairman Giovanni Cicione said the party will miss Breene’s experience on the Senate floor.

“He’s the town administrator. He has his own farm. He is very active on environmental issues and land conservation. He is a quiet guy, but he puts the time in. He knows the issues. He is a real asset to the Republican Party,” Cicione said.

As for the GOP candidate to succeed Breene in the Senate, Cicione said he has confidence in Maher.

“We heard he was a good guy. We have to get Frank Maher out there and make sure the voters know him,” Cicione said. “We view this as a prime year for getting new Republicans in place. I think it will be a good race. I’m not concerned about losing the seat.”

Meanwhile, yesterday was the deadline for the office of the secretary of state to certify all nominating papers with required signatures. For local offices and House of Representative seats, a minimum of 50 signatures was needed. Senate candidates needed 100 signatures.

In East Greenwich, five Republicans, two of them incumbents, are vying for the five Town Council seats. The council’s lone Democrat, Mark Schwager is also seeking reelection. Three Republicans and one Democrat are running for the three seats open on the School Committee.

There will be a Republican primary in September for state representative in District 30, between incumbent Robert A. Watson, of East Greenwich, and challenger Robert B. Bolton.

In West Greenwich, all local candidates have qualified for ballot placement. A lone Democrat, Kelly A. Stewart, is running for the GOP-dominated Town.

The lineups (*denotes incumbent):

East Greenwich Town Council (5 seats)

* Henry V. Boezi (R)

Richard Buonauito (R)

Steven Gregson (R)

* Michael B. Isaacs (R)

Michael S. Kiernan (R)

* Mark Schwager (D)

East Greenwich School Committee (3 seats)

Robert J Durant (R)

Deidre S. Gifford (D)

Paul H. Martin (R)

James W. Patti (R)

Representative, District 30

*Robert A. Watson (R)

Robert B. Bolton (R)

Jean Ann Guliano (D)

Senator, District 35

*J Michael Lenihan (D)

John A. Pagliarini (R)

West Greenwich Town Council (5 seats)

* Robert S. Butler (R)

Thomas E. Mulcahey (R)

Kelly A. Stewart (D)

* Mark D. Tourgee (R)

* Thaylen H. Waltonen (R)

* Susan G. Woloohojian (R)

Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee

*Gregory C. Coutcher (R)

lsparks@projo.com