Elizabeth M. Ready
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Mary "Liz" Ready is a Vermont
politician who served as Auditor of Accounts from 2001 to 2005.
on October 7, 1953 and became a resident of Lincoln
in 1976.
Ready was educated in Burlington and graduated from Rice Memorial High School
. She attended the University of Vermont
and Burlington College
, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in education. Ready later attended Norwich University
, where she studied Public Administration
.
, where she was credited with founding the Adult Diploma Program and working with vocational centers throughout Vermont to design programs for adult students.
In 1986 Ready joined Governor Madeleine M. Kunin's
Office of Policy Research and Coordination.
In 1988 Ready founded the Addison County Community Trust, an organization which works to develop affordable housing, protect farmland and, and preserve natural resources. She served as the Trust's Director for 12 years.
, Ready served in several local offices, including auditor, planning commissioner and selectman in Lincoln
and as a member of the Addison County Regional Planning Commission.
In 1988 Ready was elected to the Vermont Senate
. She won reelection four times and served from 1989 to 2001. During her Senate service she was on the Natural Resources Committee for twelve years and served as chairperson for four. In addition, she served on the Agriculture Committee for eight years, the Finance Committee for six, and the Appropriations Committee for six. For six years she also served as a member of the Joint Fiscal Committee.
Ready won reelection in 2002, defeating Republican Bruce Hyde of Fayston
and three minor candidates.
of Swanton was chosen as the Republican nominee.
During this campaign Ready was accused of having falsified her biography, with her State Senate biographical sketch and commercial publications including Marquis Who's Who
in American Politics and the State Yellow Book indicating that she had received a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont rather than Burlington College, and that she had completed a master's degree from Norwich University.
In the 2004 general election Brock defeated Ready 52% to 42%, with 6% going to the candidate of the Liberty Union Party
. Ready's defeat was largely attributed to questions about her integrity that were raised as the result of her incorrect biography.
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
politician who served as Auditor of Accounts from 2001 to 2005.
Early life
Ready was born in BurlingtonBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
on October 7, 1953 and became a resident of Lincoln
Lincoln, Vermont
Lincoln is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,214 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.0 square miles , of which 44.0 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
in 1976.
Ready was educated in Burlington and graduated from Rice Memorial High School
Rice Memorial High School
Rice Memorial High School is a coeducational Roman Catholic secondary school in South Burlington, Vermont. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. It serves students throughout Northern and Central Vermont...
. She attended the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
and Burlington College
Burlington College
Burlington College is a private liberal arts college located in Burlington, Vermont that offers Associate, Bachelor's, and Masters degrees, as well as several professional certificate programs...
, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in education. Ready later attended Norwich University
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
, where she studied Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
.
Start of career
For several years Ready taught basic literacy skills to adults in rural Addison County. She then became a consultant to the Vermont Department of EducationVermont Department of Education
The Vermont Department of Education is the state education agency of Vermont. It is headquartered in the State Office Building in Montpelier, and it has additional offices in Berlin....
, where she was credited with founding the Adult Diploma Program and working with vocational centers throughout Vermont to design programs for adult students.
In 1986 Ready joined Governor Madeleine M. Kunin's
Madeleine M. Kunin
Madeleine May Kunin is a Swiss-American diplomat and politician. She was the 77th Governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor...
Office of Policy Research and Coordination.
In 1988 Ready founded the Addison County Community Trust, an organization which works to develop affordable housing, protect farmland and, and preserve natural resources. She served as the Trust's Director for 12 years.
Early political career
A DemocratVermont Democratic Party
The Vermont Democratic Party is the affiliate branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Vermont. The party advocates progressivism, American liberalism and social democracy in the Vermont government. It holds the governorship and the majority in both houses of the state legislature...
, Ready served in several local offices, including auditor, planning commissioner and selectman in Lincoln
Lincoln, Vermont
Lincoln is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,214 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.0 square miles , of which 44.0 square miles is land and 0.04 square mile is...
and as a member of the Addison County Regional Planning Commission.
In 1988 Ready was elected to the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
. She won reelection four times and served from 1989 to 2001. During her Senate service she was on the Natural Resources Committee for twelve years and served as chairperson for four. In addition, she served on the Agriculture Committee for eight years, the Finance Committee for six, and the Appropriations Committee for six. For six years she also served as a member of the Joint Fiscal Committee.
Service as Auditor
In 2000 Ready was the successful Democratic nominee for Auditor of Accounts, defeating Republican John S. Hall of St. Johnsbury and two minor candidates.Ready won reelection in 2002, defeating Republican Bruce Hyde of Fayston
Fayston, Vermont
Fayston is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,141 at the 2000 census.-History:The town was chartered in 1788 and sold to a speculator. The town was organized in 1805. This town has produced many greats such as Sir Samuel Luke Brown...
and three minor candidates.
Defeat for third term
In 2004 Ready ran for reelection. Randy BrockRandy Brock
Randolph D. "Randy" Brock is a Vermont Republican politician. He served as Vermont Auditor of Accounts from 2005 to 2007.-Biography:...
of Swanton was chosen as the Republican nominee.
During this campaign Ready was accused of having falsified her biography, with her State Senate biographical sketch and commercial publications including Marquis Who's Who
Marquis Who's Who
Marquis Who's Who, a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc., is the American publisher of a number of directories containing short biographies...
in American Politics and the State Yellow Book indicating that she had received a bachelor's degree from the University of Vermont rather than Burlington College, and that she had completed a master's degree from Norwich University.
In the 2004 general election Brock defeated Ready 52% to 42%, with 6% going to the candidate of the Liberty Union Party
Liberty Union Party
The Liberty Union Party of Vermont, founded in 1970 by former Congressman William H. Meyer, Peter Diamondstone and others, originated in the anti-war and People's Party movements of the late 1960s and defines itself as a nonviolent socialist party.-History:...
. Ready's defeat was largely attributed to questions about her integrity that were raised as the result of her incorrect biography.
Post political career
After leaving office Ready moved to Burlington and became Executive Director of the John W. Graham Emergency Shelter in VergennesVergennes, Vermont
Vergennes is a city located in the northwest quadrant of Addison County, Vermont, in the United States. Bordered by the towns of Ferrisburgh, Panton and Waltham, as of the 2000 census the city population was 2,741. It is the smallest of Vermont's nine cities in terms of population...
.