Ulman

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman's fundraiser at Mother's in Federal Hill Monday night included an appearance by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. All signs have, up to now, have suggested that the big city mayor will be lining up with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in the 2014 gubernatorial race ... if he decides to get in. After all, she shares a fundraiser with Brown; Gov. Martin O'Malley stood by her in her most recent campaign; and the governor's brother, Peter is her chief of staff.

Howard County residents would see no property tax increase this year, but they could pay a higher fire tax under an $899 million budget proposal unveiled Friday by County Executive Ken Ulman. General fund spending, which represents money raised through local taxes and fees, would increase less than 3 percent. "It is really a maintenance budget," Ulman said of the spending plan that, if approved by the County Council, would take effect July 1. A state budget impasse has left state aid up in the air and the question of who will pay teacher pension costs unresolved, but Ulman said his plan is based on a deal made but not passed before time ran out on this year's General Assembly session.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman has hired an energy manager and released a detailed plan as part of an effort to reduce greenhouse gases that scientists believe add to global warming. Christopher Russell, 47, is a Catonsville consultant hired as a contract employee for two years at $50 an hour using federal stimulus money, Ulman said Monday. In addition, Ulman released a plan that details the county's carbon footprint and lists ways the county plans to reduce it. It's easy to make pledges about the environment, Ulman said, especially if they include promises years away.

Howard County residents are upset with County Executive Ken Ulman for ignoring their wishes regarding the County Council's redistricting plan ("Ulman rejects council's redistricting plan,' March 16). Instead he endorsed the plan of an appointed, bipartisan but Democratically controlled redistricting commission that held public hearings, then ignored the requests made by citizens who attended. They presented a plan that moved 25,000 voters around when there were alternate proposals from commission members that moved fewer than 10,000 people.

Legislation to solve a projected $20 million revenue shortfall is coming Thursday, the same day Howard County Executive Ken Ulman is to present his budget for next fiscal year, according to county officials. County budget director Raymond S. Wacks did not reveal how Ulman intends to eliminate the shortfall by June 30, the end of the fiscal year, telling County Council members Monday only that final details haven't been determined. He did have another glimmer of good tidings, however.

While Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said he would not seek a tax increase in fiscal 2011, he said unpaid furloughs would likely be imposed again on county employees. "Based on current projections, I assume furloughs will be repeated," Ulman told reporters Tuesday after his annual State of the County speech before more than 400 members of the county Chamber of Commerce at Turf Valley. He said he will not ask for tax increases, but won't decide until March whether to dip into the county's $47.5 million rainy-day fund.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman was recuperating from outpatient back surgery performed Wednesday at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore to remove a protruding portion of a disc that has been causing him pain for nearly a year. Kevin Enright, Ulman's spokesman, said the surgery was successful, and the 35-year-old executive was able to walk the same day. County government is closed this week, with unpaid furloughs, and Ulman was not planning to be out of action long, according to Enright.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman had successful surgery early Friday to cauterize what was termed "an arterial bleed in his septum," according to a statement from his spokesman, Kevin Enright. Dr. Domenick Coletti performed the surgery, and Enright said Ulman was "alert and talking." The executive was expected to be released today from Howard County General Hospital. "The Ulmans truly appreciate the numerous calls, e-mails and well-wishes that have come their way during this time," Enright said.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman was taken by ambulance to a Columbia hospital Thursday morning after he suffered a massive nosebleed in his office. According to a one-paragraph statement issued Thursday afternoon, Ulman "suffered a severe posterior nasal hemorrhage, resulting in a significant drop in blood pressure." Ulman was taken to Howard County General Hospital, where the bleeding was brought under control, but doctors decided to keep him there for observation, said Kevin Enright, the Howard County director of the Office of Public Information.

Parents, students and staff across the county received an early prom gift last week when Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced a plan to give each of the system's 12 high schools $2,000 to use for after-prom parties. The $24,000 will come from money seized during drug-related crimes. Each school's "Project Safe and After Prom" will receive the grant money to help defray the costs of facility rental, food, refreshments and entertainment. The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon at Reservoir High School in Fulton.

County Executive Ulman's reasons for not signing the County Council's redistricting plan are misleading and misguided. As a Redistricting Commission member, I know he is hiding behind a falsehood if he is claiming the commission's plan was bipartisan. It was a party-line vote. The Republican minority supported plans that did not redistrict Wheatfield or Dorsey's Search (one was submitted by a former Democratic party official that was similar to my proposal). Ulman is misguided if he thinks the commission's plan was vetted through three public hearings.

Our community and our neighbors are frustrated that our voices were not heard and facts were ignored by the Redistricting Commission, County Council, and ultimately, Ken Ulman, the county executive. The Wheatfield neighborhood has consistently worked with surrounding communities and local government to build a livable, viable community for current and future residents. Together with Montgomery Road Citizens for Responsible Growth, we helped bring senior housing to Route 103, worked with the VFW to obtain the land for Veterans Elementary School, and assisted to secure the funding and right of way for the elementary school.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced Thursday that he would not sign off on a County Council bill redrawing district boundaries, instead endorsing a map supported by an appointed bipartisan commission. Under the new boundaries, the Columbia Association will be represented by an additional council district; two Ellicott City neighborhoods will move from their current district, despite residents' protests before the council; and parts of Elkridge will continue to bleed into District 2. The newly drawn council districts will take effect for the 2014 council elections.

A bill proposed by the Howard County executive would eliminate a two-tiered fire tax system and could garner about $1.8 million in revenue, county officials said. Howard, unlike the rest of Maryland, has two fire tax rates: one for the more densely populated eastern part of the county and another, which costs 2 cents less, for the more rural west. Some western residents say the current system is fair because they benefit less from county services. But County Executive Ken Ulman says the west receives the same fire service as the east and should pay the same rate — as western residents do for other county services, such as school and police.

Residents of Columbia, Ellicott City and Elkridge neighborhoods are waiting for County Executive Ken Ulman to weigh in on a plan that has the potential to shift several areas among County Council districts. The County Council on Monday broke a months-long deadlock on a redistricting plan proposed last year. The final plan, which needs Ulman's approval, would satisfy Ellicott City residents who complained loudly about an earlier proposal to move them into a Columbia district. But the plan also splits Elkridge, a measure that drew fresh complaints from people who live in that area.

The race to become Howard County's next executive is shaping up, with potential candidates stashing money in the bank for the chance to replace term-limited Ken Ulman, who is considering a run for higher office. Campaign finance reports, released this week, show potential contenders gearing up ahead of the 2014 election, including Del. Guy Guzzone and Howard County Councilwoman Courtney Watson, who are Democrats, and Republican Sen. Allan Kittleman. Guzzone said he banked roughly $92,000 in 2011 and has a balance of about $192,000.

The cancer charity of Howard County executive Ken Ulman's brother will team with a Virginia company to run its Half Full Triathlon , a fundraising event in Ellicott City. The Ulman Cancer Fund hopes to save $250,000 or more annually by turning over operation of the event to Rev3. The company will also make UCF an official charity partner for its flagship national race series, which will add Half Full as its 10th event, said UCF Executive Director Brock Yetso.  The shift away from in-house race logistics will allow UCF to spend more energy on its core work.

Howard County Executive Ken Ulman's fundraiser at Mother's in Federal Hill Monday night included an appearance by Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. All signs have, up to now, have suggested that the big city mayor will be lining up with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown in the 2014 gubernatorial race ... if he decides to get in. After all, she shares a fundraiser with Brown; Gov. Martin O'Malley stood by her in her most recent campaign; and the governor's brother, Peter is her chief of staff.