Jim Ogonowski said Friday that he is definitely not interested in running for chairman of the Massachusetts GOP.

"Never even considered it," Ogonowski, a Dracut Republican, told PolitickerMA.com.

Ogonowski became a rising star of the Republican Party during his run against Congresswoman Niki Tsongas in the 2007 special election for the 5th Congressional District. Ogonowski was also set to challenge U.S. Sen. John Kerry this year until he failed to submit enough signatures to get on the primary ballot.

Like Dan Winslow, some Republicans were speculating that Ogonowski might pursue the chairmanship after current chair Peter Torkildsen announced he will not seek re-election.

Ogonowski, however, said that there are certain criteria that a chairman of the party must have and that he doesn't think he fits the mold.

"Somebody that runs for the party chairman has to be well connected in the state, they have to know the people with money on a very knowledgeable basis," he said. "They have to know how to run a winning campaign. It has to be someone that has a proven record of running or winning campaigns - we don't have a track record of winning in Massachusetts. It has to be someone who knows how to recruit good candidates and someone who can unite the party. I don't meet all of those criteria."

Currently, State Committeewoman Jennifer Nassour is the only declared candidate for the post.