Category Archives: Ken Ulman

Maryland gubernatorial race heats up

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Maryland state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Takoma Park) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

Even though Maryland’s gubernatorial election is more than a year away, the campaign to succeed Gov. Martin O’Malley has already begun to heat up.

Lieutenant Gov. Anthony Brown on Monday announced Howard County Executive Ken Ulman as his running mate. Attorney General Doug Gansler and state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) are expected to officially throw their hats into the ring later this year, while Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger is also considered a potential candidate.

Mizeur reported in a campaign finance report she filed in January that she raised $244,089.40 between Jan. 12, 2012, and Jan. 9 of this year. Brown said he raised $1,247,811.80 in cash and in-kind donations during the same period, while Gansler netted $1,236,284.96.

“I have been taking a serious look at getting in the governor’s race because I have been encouraged for some time by advocates I that have worked on a range of issues,” Mizeur told the Washington Blade on Tuesday, citing the expansion of health care and environmental protections and the passage of last year’s same-sex marriage law as three of the specific things on which she has worked. “As I am exploring those conversations with voters across the state, there’s a lot of energy and enthusiasm and momentum behind getting in.”

Maryland Juice, a progressive political blog, on Monday reported Gansler could potentially tap gay Salisbury Mayor Jim Ireton or lesbian state Del. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City) as his running mate. The website said a reader pointed out Ireton attended a Brown campaign event on the same day he announced Ulman as his running mate.

On the Republican side, Harford County Executive David Craig, state Del. Ron George (R-Anne Arundel County,) 2012 U.S. Senate candidate Brian Vaeth and Frederick County Board of Commissioners President Blaine Young have officially declared their candidacy.

Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele, who was Maryland’s lieutenant governor from 2003-2007, told MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Monday he is “looking at” entering the race. Former 2010 congressional candidate Charles Lollar is among the other Republicans who are rumored to be mulling the race.

The Washington Post reported Young described the passage of the state’s same-sex marriage law as a “travesty” during a speech he gave at the Maryland Young Republicans’ convention in Rockville on Saturday. Lollar also opposes nuptials for gays and lesbians.

“It’s still early in the game yet,” Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director Gregory T. Angelo told the Blade. “At this point I’m more interested to see whether GOP contenders entertain the fool’s errand of trying to roll back marriage equality rather than their personal opinions of it. I can’t imagine any candidate campaigning—much less winning—on a platform of overturning the will of the people.”

David Moon, publisher of Maryland Juice, said he doesn’t expect a Republican will succeed O’Malley in 2014.

“It’s really difficult to see the path to victory for any of the announced Republicans at this point,” he told the Blade.

The primary election will be held in June 2014 and the general election in November.

Elmendorf hosts Mizeur fundraiser

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Maryland Del. Heather Mizeur (on right) (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

About sixty people attended a fundraiser for lesbian Maryland Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) at gay Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf’s D.C. home on Monday.

Former Human Rights Campaign President Elizabeth Birch, Winnie Stachelberg of the Center for American Progress and lesbian Democratic political strategist Hilary Rosen are among those who served on the event’s host committee. Tickets for the fundraiser ranged from $100-$1,000.

Mizeur, who did not immediately return the Washington Blade’s request for comment, said during an exclusive interview in November that she is “taking a very serious look” at a 2014 gubernatorial campaign. She would likely face Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman if she sought to succeed Gov. Martin O’Malley.

O’Malley told the Blade in a post-Election Day interview that he would support Brown in the 2014 gubernatorial campaign. Mizeur’s supporters remain adamant, however, that she would prove an effective governor if elected.

“I met Heather when she worked for John Kerry and have always admired her work ethic and commitment to progressive issues,” Elmendorf, who chairs the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said.

“Heather is one of the hardest workers in politics and the importance of that cannot be underscored; and being the only woman competing in a primary with several other men could be the advantage she needs to win the primary,” gay Democratic activist Lane Hudson added.

Mizeur raises more than $248,000 in 2012

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Heather (right) and Deborah Mizeur at their Takoma Park home. Heather is contemplating a run for governor. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Maryland campaign finance reports indicate lesbian state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) last year raised more than $248,000 for her potential gubernatorial campaign.

Mizeur said in a press release before filing her campaign finance report with the Maryland State Board of Elections that she raised $155,671 between Nov. 1 and Jan. 9, compared to the $93,976 that Gov. Martin O’Malley took in during the equivalent period before he officially announced his re-election campaign. She also reported $381,249.81 in cash on hand.

Lesbian Democratic political strategist Hilary Rosen, former Equality Maryland Executive Director Dan Furmansky, gay Democratic lobbyist Steve Elmendorf and College Park City Council member Patrick Wojahn are among those who contributed to Mizeur’s political action committee. LPAC Chair Sarah Schmidt and Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts also made contributions.

“In every corner of the state, voters tell me they want a governor with clear ideas for the future and a track record of results,” Mizeur said. “I’m honored that so many are encouraging me to run, and I will never stop working to strengthen our economy, protect our natural resources, and ensure that every Marylander receives equal protections and rights under the law.”

Mizeur told the Washington Blade in an exclusive interview in November she is seriously considering a run to succeed O’Malley in 2014. She would likely face Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Attorney General Douglas Gansler and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman.

Brown reported he raised $1,247,811.80 in cash and in-kind contributions between Jan. 12, 2012, and Jan. 9, while Gansler netted $1,236,284.96. Ulman raised $1,139,945.82 during the same period.

The three men reported $1,633,397, $5,204,692.03 and $1,139,945.82 in cash on hand respectively.

Republican Frederick County Commission President Blaine Young raised $446,951.86 between May 4, 2012, and Jan. 9. He also reported $341,936.58 in cash on hand.

A campaign finance report for Harford County Executive David R. Craig, who is Young’s likely GOP challenger, was not immediately available.

Mizeur comes in second in Md. gubernatorial straw poll

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Heather (right) and Deborah Mizeur at their Takoma Park home. Heather is contemplating a run for governor. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Maryland state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery County) on Saturday came in second place in a 2014 gubernatorial straw poll that took place during the Western Maryland Democratic Summit in Hagerstown.

The Washington Post reported the Takoma Park Democrat received 37 votes, compared to Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown who received 62 votes. Attorney General Doug Gansler came in third with 25 votes. Howard County Executive Ken Ulman received 17 votes, while Congressman C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger came in fifth with one vote.

Less than 150 people voted in the straw poll, but Mizeur told the Washington Blade on Monday she feels it is an indication of the support she said she continues to receive as she mulls a gubernatorial campaign.

“This strong, early show of support from western Marylanders re-affirms what I’ve heard across the state — we love Maryland and are proud to live here, and we want it to be even better,” she said.

Mizeur, who told the Blade in an exclusive interview last November she is “taking a very serious look at” running to succeed Gov. Martin O’Malley in 2014, reported in a campaign finance report she filed in January that she raised more than $248,000 for her potential gubernatorial campaign between Jan. 12, 2012, and Jan. 9 of this year. Brown reported he raised $1,247,811.80 in cash and in-kind contributions during the same period, while Gansler netted $1,236,284.96.

Ulman reported he raised $1,139,945.82.

“There’s a real desire for new vision and leadership, and that’s why I’m taking a look at the governor’s race,” Mizeur said.