39 Facts About Kenneth Ulman

Kenneth Samuel Ulman was born on May 4,1974 and is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who has served as the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party since 2023.

Kenneth Ulman previously served as the county executive of Howard County, Maryland from 2006 to 2014 and represented the 4th district of the Howard County Council from 2002 to 2006.

Kenneth Ulman was born in Columbia, Maryland, on May 4,1974, to Diana and Louis Jay Kenneth Ulman, an attorney who was the chair of the Maryland Racing Commission under Governor Parris Glendening.

Kenneth Ulman graduated from Centennial High School and attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and politics in 1997 and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity; and Georgetown University, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 2001.

Kenneth Ulman was admitted to the Maryland Bar in June 2001.

Kenneth Ulman first became involved in politics while attending UMD, where he was a student government member and later worked as a western Iowa and Wyoming field director for the Bill Clinton 1996 presidential campaign and Prince George's County executive Parris Glendening's campaign in the 1998 Maryland gubernatorial election.

In July 2001, after county councilmember Mary Lorsung announced that she would not run for re-election in 2002, Kenneth Ulman told The Baltimore Sun that he would run to succeed her.

Kenneth Ulman faced Mary Kay Sigaty in the Democratic primary election, during which Ulman received endorsements from county councilmember Guy Guzzone and county labor unions, and enjoyed a large financial advantage over Sigaty, whom he outspent 5-to-1.

Kenneth Ulman narrowly defeated Sigaty in the primary election in September 2002, edging her out by 36 votes, and defeated Republican nominee Joan Lancos in the general election.

Kenneth Ulman introduced bills to ban roadside stands and to provide police with reduced rates for apartments in higher-crime areas, opposed efforts to close the Merriweather Post Pavilion, and supported bills to limit development in communities near overcrowded schools.

In November 2005, Ulman announced that he would run for Howard County Executive in 2006, seeking to succeed term-limited county executive James N Robey.

Kenneth Ulman defeated perennial candidate Harry Dunbar in the Democratic primary election and won the general election against Republican county councilmember Christopher Merdon.

Kenneth Ulman was re-elected to second term in 2010, in which he defeated Ehrlich administration official Trent Kittleman with 62.5 percent of the vote.

Kenneth Ulman was sworn in as Howard County Executive on December 4,2006.

Kenneth Ulman received criticism for policies banning sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks on county property and for using county police to transport him to political events, including fundraisers for state legislators and his re-election campaign.

In November 2008, Kenneth Ulman was appointed by National Association of Counties president Don Stapley to serve for one year as the vice chair of the association's Health Steering Committee.

Kenneth Ulman expressed opposition to Centennial Gardens, a planned 59-unit apartment complex in Font Hill, and support for Columbia redevelopment plans, saying that it would bring about a "more concentrated, but pedestrian-friendly town center", but expressed concerns with plans to develop 5,500 housing units, stores, offices, and a hotel in downtown Columbia.

In December 2007, Kenneth Ulman published a slightly modified version of the county's downtown redevelopment plan that included substantial alterations from the original plan, including an expanded discussion of green technologies and public transit, promoting Howard Community College and Howard County General Hospital, and creating a public square within the downtown area.

In October 2008, Kenneth Ulman proposed regulations aimed at speeding up the review process for new development projects in Howard County.

In December 2012, Kenneth Ulman issued his first-ever veto to a bill to designate land preservation areas in Howard County, saying that he believed the bill did not go far enough to preserve land in the county.

In December 2012, following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Kenneth Ulman established a school safety task force to address building security and mental health concerns.

In May 2014, Kenneth Ulman unveiled a $2.5 million, county-funded scholarship for students attending Howard Community College.

In October 2007, Kenneth Ulman proposed creating a cabinet-level environmental office to encourage residents and businesses to adopt environmentally sustainable practices.

In 2007, Kenneth Ulman proposed a $7.7 million increase in the county's fire property taxes to fund Fire Department projects in western Howard County.

In February 2014, Kenneth Ulman criticized a proposal to cut the statewide corporate tax rate as a "$1.6 billion giveaway".

In January 2007, Kenneth Ulman lobbied state and federal officials to extend the Metrorail's Green Line to Fort Meade, Maryland, which he argued would help accommodate expected growth amid the Pentagon's plan to reorganize military bases.

Kenneth Ulman supported efforts to create an interchange connecting US Route 1 and Maryland Route 175.

In March 2014, Kenneth Ulman announced a new transit partnership between Howard and Anne Arundel counties to help operate regional bus routes.

In June 2011, Kenneth Ulman traveled to Israel on a trip paid for by the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.

In July 2012, Kenneth Ulman helped fundraise for groups supporting 2012 Maryland Question 6, which upheld a state law legalizing same-sex marriage in Maryland.

In December 2012, Kenneth Ulman signed an executive order banning the sale of high-sugar drinks and high-calorie foods on county property, including schools and libraries.

Brown and Kenneth Ulman won the Democratic primary election on June 25,2014, receiving 51.4 percent of the vote.

On November 4,2014, the Brown-Kenneth Ulman ticket was defeated by Republican businessman Larry Hogan in the general election in what many considered to be an upset victory.

In November 2018, Kenneth Ulman was named to county executive-elect Calvin Ball III's transition team.

In February 2019, Kenneth Ulman became a partner and investor in Baltimore Fishbowl.

In November 2022, Kenneth Ulman was named to Governor-elect Wes Moore's transition team.

In October 2023, following the retirement of Yvette Lewis, Moore recommended Kenneth Ulman to succeed her as chair of the Maryland Democratic Party.

Kenneth Ulman met his future wife, Jacqueline, while attending the University of Maryland, College Park.

In December 2009, Kenneth Ulman underwent outpatient back surgery to remove a protruding portion of an intervertebral disc.