By Stacie N. Galang
Two years into his job as chairman of the state's Republican party, Peter Torkildsen is passing on the mantle.
A former North Shore state legislator and U.S. congressman, he announced yesterday he would not seek a follow-up term heading up the state's GOP.
"I will complete my term," he said by phone yesterday. "I just won't run for another term."
His decision comes as the state turned an even deeper shade of blue this November. Republicans lost three seats this month in the Legislature, filling only 21 of the 200 seats.
When he took the reins in January 2007, Torkildsen said the measure of his work would be the number of Republican elected officials in office and the number of activists on the volunteer rolls.
Overall, he gave himself a "mixed grade" as chairman.
Despite losing ground in the Legislature, he said more volunteers turned out at their own downtown office and the Boston campaign headquarters of presidential candidate John McCain.
"These are people who are very much interested in staying active in the party," he said.
Torkildsen said he put a lot of time and effort into the position over the past two years but decided he couldn't make the same commitment for two more.
The state's GOP should continue on the course he's set, he said, training candidates, grooming more volunteers and getting out the vote.
"I think we need to stick with the part of the game plan that I outlined," he said.
In defending his record, Torkildsen said some of the newest crop of Republican candidates earned as much as 40 percent to 48 percent of the vote this month, but they couldn't pull out wins given the unprecedented support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"What hit them was the best showing for a president since 1964," he said. "It's very tough to win when the Democratic nominee for president has done so well in the district."
He appreciated the support of many members who called to encourage him to run again, Torkildsen said in a statement.
In the end, he decided against a second term and made his announcement to give candidates the chance to step forward.
In the statement, Torkildsen touted accomplishments like re-electing all Republican candidates, raising $1.5 million without the benefit of a Republican governor and conducting 50 campaign training sessions.
As for his own political future, the chairman said he doesn't know.
"I have no immediate plans yet," he said.
The Republican said he plans to remain active in the party, including helping candidates in 2009 and 2010, if a U.S. Senate seat opens. He has no plans to run for the job, he said.
"I would not be a candidate for it," he said. "I will be looking for a candidate to support."
Torkildsen is encouraging fellow Republicans to run for office or volunteer on campaigns. If they sit back and do nothing, they can't complain, he said.
His last day as chairman will be Jan. 27 — the date of the chairman's election — and he has pledged to help his replacement transition into the job.
State committee member Jennifer Nassour of Charlestown sent out letters last Thursday announcing her intention to run for the job, she said last night.
"After the election and seeing us lose three seats, I decided I wanted to put my name in to change the party and get it back on course," she said.
Nassour, a self-described lifelong Republican, called Torkildsen a great man and chairman.
After the party hit "rock bottom," she wanted to lead it through change by "re-energizing and reinvigorating" it.
