Ken McKay, the onetime aide to former Gov. Donald L. Carcieri who later served as the chief of staff for the Republican National Committee, announced Monday that he hopes to be the next chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party.

Ending months of speculation about whether he would seek the position, the North Kingstown resident said in a statement that the state Republican Party is poised do great things.

"Republicans are faced with an incredible opportunity to win elections in Rhode Island," he said. "We have great incumbents and great candidates. We have incredibly hard-working advocates."

He continued: "I humbly believe that if we all pull together against liberal, Democrat policies and leaders we can win elections here. In my opinion, Republican ideas represent the majority opinion in Rhode Island. Liberals and Democrats continue to take us in the wrong direction. We must organize the like-minded majority, and identify our vote, and turn them out on Election Day, if we do we will find ourselves in the majority and in control of our destiny."

McKay served as Carcieri's chief of staff and later was the highest-ranking aide to Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele. He was forced to resign from the national post last April, amid controversy over questionable expenses billed to the committee, including $1,900 to entertain young donors at Voyeur, a bondage-themed club in West Hollywood. Some questioned whether McKay was used as a scapegoat after it was revealed that he was not at the club and did not authorize the expenses.

McKay is the second person to announce a run for the state party chairmanship. Cranston lawyer Patrick Sweeney, who served as deputy campaign manager for John J. Loughlin II in his run for the state's 1st Congressional District seat last year, announced his candidacy in December.

With current state Chairman Giovanni Cicione looking to move on, the party is expected to choose a new chairman in March.