Jim Pelura, the chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, said Justin Ready, the chief of staff to state Sen. Janet Greeinp (R-Crofton), was the "right fit" to become the new executive director of the state party. This morning, Pelura announced that Ready had been selected to replace John Flynn.

"I rely on my first impression," Pelura said of his decision. "All the candidates were well qualified, but Justin is the right one."

"I'm very happy to be asked to serve," Ready told PolitickerMD.com. "I'm excited to continue the process of working with the chairman to make Maryland a two-party state again."

Ready, 26, has been with Greenip for the past 18 months, and recently served as the "state grassroots leader" on Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign.

He was also the statewide field director on state Sen. E.J. Pipkin's (R-Stevensville) 2004 U.S. Senate campaign, and worked for Del. J.B. Jennings (R-District 7).

In addition, Ready was a volunteer on Bob Ehrlich's 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

"Your executive director should at least think like you politically," Pelura explained, saying the two "click" on their political perspectives.

"I know Justin," Pelura added. "He is a good campaigner and manager. He knows the state house very well from his work with Sen. Greenip."

The chairman said Ready would begin full-time by next week.

Ready said there were "administrative things" that had to be addressed as he begins his new service, adding, "We have to get the message out about what we view as the failed policies of the (Gov. Martin) O'Malley administration and the Democratic General Assembly."

He said the average person often doesn't have the time to "follow what is going on in Annapolis," and said part of his job would be to "get the message out to people."

Other candidates for the executive director position included Corey Stottlemyer, the former political director of the state party; and Chris Meekins, the campaign manager for state Sen. Andy Harris' (R-Cockeysville) congressional bid.

In the end, Pelura said he made a "judgment call."

"It's not that they could or couldn't do anything," Pelura said of those not selected. "I feel Justin is the best fit and is the executive director we need right now to clean house in the Maryland General Assembly."

"I congratulate (Ready) and look forward to working with him," Stottlemyer, who serves on the Washington County Republican Central Committee, said.

Meekins could not be reached for immediate comment.

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