The Massachusetts Republican Party needs serious change, Republican Party Chair candidate Jennifer Nassour said Monday. Nassour, of Charlestown, is challenging current Republican Chair Peter Torkildsen for his job.

In an interview with PolitickerMA.com, Nassour said she is tired of Republicans in Massachusetts getting walked on by Democrats and the numerous scandals on Beacon Hill.  

"Someone needs to be out there calling for [House Speaker] Salvatore DiMasi's resignation," she said. "There is so much scandal surrounding Beacon Hill right now and there is no one out there saying this is disgusting."

DiMasi is currently under investigation by the state Ethics Commission.

"It's almost as if Republicans are afraid," Nassour went on, "afraid of debate, afraid of the challenge. Challenge should be celebrated, it shouldn't be feared."

Nassour said she was compelled to run for the chairmanship after the Republicans performance in last week's election. The GOP lost all three seats in the House that were vacated by Republican state representatives. "We've seen too many articles recently describing us as hitting rock bottom," she said. "And when you have 16 state representatives and five state senators you kind of are at rock bottom."

Nassour said she is currently formulating a two-year and 10-year plan for the party and wants to start right away in recruiting and cultivating candidates. She also emphasized the importance of fundraising and establishing a party platform.

"First, we definitely have to define the party on the issues that matter to our voters to appeal to both Republicans and non-Republicans," she said. "We should not try to avoid the fact that we are Republicans."

Specifically, Nassour said the party should step up its efforts on illegal immigration and support smaller government. She also said the party should stand for lower taxes and encouraging small business development.

While she said she believes the Massachusetts GOP has hit a low point, Nassour said she sees a lot of opportunity. With the possibility that U.S. Sen. John Kerry being appointed to the Obama administration, Nassour sees the potential for seismic shifts in the political landscape since a congressman may vacate his or her seat for the post. And, if U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy eventually steps down from his seat due to his illness, that vacancy would also present changes in the political landscape, Nassour said.  

"We really need to be working on candidates who can jump in at any moment and run for seats," she said.

Ultimately, Nassour said it is time for the Republican Party to stand up for itself.

"I do not believe that Massachusetts is well served by a one party government," she said. "It's running us into the ground. It's not something that our founding fathers were thinking for us."