Ready in the running to become GOP Executive Director

Justin Ready, the chief of staff to state Sen. Janet Greenip (R-Crofton), told PolitickerMD.com that he is one of 14 candidates seeking to become the next executive director of the Maryland Republican Party.

Ready, 26, said that he’s “had a lot of experience in the last five years,” and said he did not think his youth would hurt his chances at securing the position.

Ready has been with Greenip for the past 18 months. Before that, he was the statewide field director on state Sen. E.J. Pipkin’s (R-Stevensville) 2004 U.S. Senate campaign. He also worked for Del. J.B. Jennings (R-District 7) and was a volunteer on Bob Ehrlich’s 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

Recently, Ready served as the “state grassroots leader” on Mike Huckabee’s presidential campaign.

Through these experiences, Ready said he has developed strong contacts and relationships with central committee and General Assembly members, along with other GOP leaders.

Ready said he has known state party Chairman Jim Pelura since 2004, when he worked on the Pipkin campaign.

“Politics is a lot about relationships,” Ready said.

Pelura interviewed the candidates on Tuesday and said he plans to make a decision by early next week.

If selected, Ready said he would “work to help the chairman carry out his plan for the party,” and “continue to help the grassroots feel energized and motivated.”

He said Republicans had a “unique opportunity” to improve their position among the state political leadership because of tax increases brought about by the 2007 legislative special session.

Ready said he would try to convince grassroots supporters that “the party is theirs,” from “Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore and everything in between.”