Massachusetts: Massachusetts Gop

Michael Franco may have quietly entered the race for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party a couple of weeks ago, but since then he has made a splash by criticizing Jennifer Nassour, the other candidate in the race.

Scott Brown, one of five Republicans in the state Senate, announced his support on Monday for Jennifer Nassour's candidacy for chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.

"I have officially endorsed Jennifer Nassour because she has a clear vision for the future of the party," Brown, a Wrentham Republican, said. "She is a breath of fresh air and has the experience and skills necessary to usher the party back to where we should be so that we can bring reform, common sense, and balance to state...government."

The Massachusetts Republican Party jumped on Gov. Deval Patrick's selection of James Aloisi to be the state's next transportation secretary on Friday, blasting the governor for going back on his campaign promise to fight "Big Dig culture."

Patrick, a Milton Democrat, announced that Aloisi, a former general counsel for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, will take over for Bernard Cohen in the post at the beginning of next year.

Republican State Committee member Jennifer Nassour, the only declared candidate for chairman of the state GOP, unveiled her plan for the future of the party to the State Committee this week.

The plan, which she told PolitickerMA.com is still a work in progress, is a seven-page long document that focuses on four broad areas - fundraising, grassroots organization, messaging and outreach - and calls for the party to more aggressively draw contrasts with Democrats.