BALTIMORE (January 29, 2008) -- The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) announced that the Honorable Ken Ulman was elected Chair at its Board of Directors meeting on January 29. Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold was elected Vice Chair. Howard County Executive Ulman succeeds Harford County Executive David R. Craig, who served as chair in 2007. Other board members include Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith, Jr., and Carroll County Commissioner Dean L. Minnich.

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council is the organization of the region's elected executives, which serves as a forum for identifying regional interests and developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs to improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the region. In addition, BMC provides technical and staff support to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board, the federally-designated metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the Baltimore region.

"I am honored that my regional colleagues have chosen me to chair the BMC," Ulman said. "I expect to focus on continuing regional collaboration on issues that affect us all. Environmental initiatives, especially energy efficiency and carbon reduction will be a top priority and also law enforcement."

Ken Ulman was sworn in as Howard County Executive in December, 2006, at the age of 32, making him the youngest County Executive ever elected in the state of Maryland. Prior to that, Ken represented Howard County's District 4 as a County Council member.

As County Executive, Ken has focused on key areas such as public safety and health, education and the environment. He established a Commission on the Environment and Sustainability which spent six months working to identify sound environmental practices: one result of that process is that Howard County now provides significant tax credits to businesses that build "green" buildings. Ken also made Howard County among the first counties in the country to be an active participant in the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, an effort to reduce global warming.

Ken's commitment to public health is no less ambitious. In September 2007, Ken announced plans to make Howard County one of the first counties in the country to offer affordable access to health care for uninsured residents. The plan would offer participants six visits to physicians each year along with individual health care coaches. The ambitious low-cost plan, designed so it can be adapted elsewhere in the country, will begin in October of 2008 with plans to enroll 2,000 people in the first year.

Regionally, Ken is Chair of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board and was Vice Chair of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council in 2007. He serves on the Maryland Association of Counties' Board of Directors and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the County Executives of America. Ken was named one of Baltimore Magazine's "15 Most Intriguing People of 2007" as well as being named one of Baltimore Business Journal's "40 under 40", which honors 40 of the region's top up-and-comers making a name for themselves and their businesses. He has also served on the board of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.

With lifelong roots to the community, Ken is a product of the local public school system. He graduated from Centennial High School and received his bachelor's degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park. He completed his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Before being elected County Executive, Ken ran his own law firm in Columbia. County Executive Ulman and his wife Jacqueline live in Columbia with their two young daughters.