Some GOP hopefuls had to opt out

A truism of electoral politics is that you have to run for an office more than once in order to win it. Early losses build name recognition and provide a learning experience, which can lead to victory in the future.

But of the 2004 crop of Republican legislative candidates south of Boston, only two, so far, are running again this year.

Steven S. Howitt, a Seekonk selectman, plans to run for the open seat being vacated by 24-year Democratic Representative Philip Travis of Rehoboth. Howitt lost to Travis two years ago, receiving 37 percent of the vote to Travis's 63 percent. The district includes Seekonk, Rehoboth, and parts of Norton and Swansea.

Paul T. Curtis, a member of the Plymouth Redevelopment Authority and the Plymouth Republican Town Committee, is making a second bid for the seat of Democratic Representative Thomas J. O'Brien of Kingston. O'Brien took 69 percent of the vote to Curtis's 31 percent two years ago. The district consists of Kingston and Plympton and parts of Duxbury, Halifax, Middleborough, and Plymouth.

Others who ran two years ago are out of the running this year for a variety of reasons.

Douglas M. Veeder of Weymouth, who challenged Representative James M. Murphy of Weymouth in 2004, said family responsibilities preclude his running this year. His mother-in-law is battling cancer, and his child has bipolar disorder. He and his wife also have a newborn.

''There is just too much on my plate to contemplate running for the Legislature," said Veeder, who is director of the Quincy After School Child Care program.

Braintree Selectman Charles Kokoros, who ran against state Representative Joseph R. Driscoll of Braintree, said he has settled what differences he had with Driscoll.

''I've gotten to know Representative Driscoll well and have become good friends with him," Kokoros said. ''He's doing a great job." Canton School Committee member John G. Bonnanzio, who challenged Representative William C. Galvin of Canton in 2004, said he has too much going on in his life to run again this year. ''My hands are really full with School Committee issues," he said.

Two former Republican candidates have had legal troubles recently.

Matthew Sisk of Braintree, who ran against Driscoll in a special election in 2003 and was the first GOP legislative candidate for whom Governor Mitt Romney stumped, was arrested March 1 on a drunken-driving charge.

Lawrence P. Novak of Brockton, who ran for state Senate two years ago, was charged with money laundering last September and resigned his party positions.

One high-profile GOP candidate in 2004 was Timothy E. Duncan, a wealthy Falmouth entrepreneur, who ran an aggressive campaign against Therese Murray, chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Duncan has not been involved in district politics, said Christopher Fava of Plymouth, GOP committeeman for the Senate district.

Fava ran against Murray in 2002, taking 42 percent of the vote to Murray's 58 percent. Fava said he is not in a position to run this year. ''I just got married last May, and we're expecting our first child in August," he said.