Kenneth Samuel Ulman[1] (born May 4, 1974) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who has served as the chair of the Maryland Democratic Party since 2023.
[17] During his tenure, Ulman was described by the Baltimore Sun as a progressive, and was credited with helping pass a bill to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in Howard County.
In response, Ulman said that he responded to a union request for help amid an anti-union campaign headed by the CAC, and that he was glad he intervened.
[30] During his 2006 Howard County executive campaign, Ulman unveiled a development platform that involved citizens in the planning process, including in helping decide the locations of businesses and what roads and sidewalks should be built.
[34] In December 2007, 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.
[39] In April 2014, Ulman supported calls to roll back amendments made to the county's zoning plan that would allow mulching facilities as a conditional use with no space limitations on agriculturally preserved land.
[42] In August 2011, Ulman established a commission to explore changing the Howard County Board of Education's structure to promote racial and geographic diversity, and reduce conflicts.
In response, Ulman announced plans to build an $8.1 million electrical protection system to prevent future effluent releases.
[50] During his 2006 Howard County executive campaign, Ulman said that he supported decreasing property taxes for people with limited incomes and owned a partial share of their subsidized homes.
[55] In January 2007, 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.
[57] In March 2014, Ulman announced a new transit partnership between Howard and Anne Arundel counties to help operate regional bus routes.
[60] In December 2012, Ulman signed an executive order banning the sale of high-sugar drinks and high-calorie foods on county property, including schools and libraries.
[64] On the campaign trail, Ulman worked as a fundraising powerhouse for Brown and rallied on fiscal issues, including job creation and economic growth.
[67][68] On November 4, 2014, the Brown-Ulman ticket was defeated by Republican businessman Larry Hogan in the general election in what many considered to be an upset victory.
[80] Ulman met his future wife, Jacqueline (née Harf), while attending the University of Maryland, College Park.