Kenneth Ulman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ken Ulman
County Executive of Howard County, Maryland
Incumbent
Assumed office December 4, 2006
Preceded by	James N. Robey

Born	May 4, 1974 Columbia, Maryland
Political party	Democratic Party
Profession	Attorney
Website	Howard County Government

Kenneth Ulman was sworn in on December 4, 2006, as the County Executive of Howard County, Maryland. As a member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as a County Council member representing District 4 of Howard County. He is the youngest County Executive ever elected in Maryland.[1]

1 Early life and education
2 Early career
3 Term as County Councilman
4 First term as County Executive
5 Notable positions and accomplishments
6 Election history
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Early life and education

Ken was born in Columbia, Maryland on May 4, 1974, and attended Centennial High School (Ellicott City, Maryland). He earned a B.A. in Government & Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1997. Four years later, he earned degree in law from the Georgetown University Law Center, passed the Maryland Bar Exam and started his own law firm in Columbia.^[1]

He currently resides in Columbia with his wife and two daughters.^[2]

[edit] Early career

With his brother, Doug, and his parents, all cancer survivors, Ken helped found The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults in 1997, following Doug's bout with cancer and the family's discovery that support services for young adult cancer survivors were lacking. Accordingly, the Ulman Cancer Fund works to address this need, providing support programs, literature and other services to young adults struggling with cancer. Doug Ulman is currently president of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.[2]

[edit] Term as County Councilman

Ken won his first County Council election in 2002 against Republican Party opponent Joan Lancos. During his four-year tenure representing District 4 in Howard County, Ken championed a community "charrette" planning process for Downtown Columbia and helped keep open Merriweather Post Pavilion, a local concert venue.

[edit] First term as County Executive

In 2006, with 52% of the vote, Ken won election as County Executive, beating Republican Party opponent Christopher J. Merdon and independent candidate C. Stephen Wallis.^[3] His campaign platform focused on public safety and health, education, and the environment.^[4]

In his third month in office, Ken appointed top local environmental experts to serve on the newly founded Commission on the Environment and Sustainability to further his campaign for environmental and energy reforms.^[5]

In February 2007, Ken signed onto the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, making Howard County one of the first counties to join nationally.^[6] This agreement requires participating state and local governments to adopt emission reduction targets and programs.^[7]

Ken strongly encouraged and supported the establishment of the Healthy Howard Access Plan, a non-profit organization to bring affordable health care to uninsured county residents. Beginning October 1, 2008, two-thousand residents will be offered primary care services, inexpensive prescription drugs, specialty care services, and in- and outpatient hospital care in the program’s first year.^[8]

[edit] Notable positions and accomplishments

Ken is currently Chair of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and Chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. He serves on the Maryland Association of Counties' Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the County Executives of America. Ken was named one of the “15 Most Intriguing People of 2007,” according to Baltimore Magazine, and one of Baltimore Business Journal’s “40 under 40” outstanding business and community leaders.^[9]^[10]

[edit] Election history

Year	Office	Election		Subject	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%		Opponent	Party	Votes	%
2002	Howard County Council, District 4	General		Kenneth Ulman	Democratic	11,602	58%		Joan C. Lancos	Republican	8,260	42%
2006	Howard County Executive	General		Kenneth Ulman	Democratic	54,022	52.1%		Christopher J. Merdon	Republican	44,910	43.3%		C. Stephen Wallis	Independent	4,701	4.6%