Baltimore County residents protest nomination process of new inspector general

Baltimore County residents protested Executive Kathy Klausmeier's nomination of Khadija Walker as the next inspector general outside the county courthouse on Tuesday.

The appointment of the new inspector has sparked backlash from residents and elected officials, who have called for the reappointment of current Inspector General Kelly Madigan.

"We're here not because of any one person, but because of a set of bad decisions," said Baltimore County resident Yara Cheikh, who joined the demonstration ahead of a public hearing on Walker's nomination.

While no vote has been scheduled, six of the seven council members have expressed continued support for Madigan, raising uncertainty about whether Walker will be confirmed.

Who is Khadijah Walker?

Walker, who attended the hearing, was nominated on July 24 by County Executive Kathy Klausmeier.

According to the county's news release, Walker brings more than two decades of experience, much of it spent as a program analyst at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago.

The release also states that Walker has "more than 22 years of high-level inspector general experience."

According to the county executive, Walker played a role in holding the federal government accountable during the Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, water crises.

"Through our selection process, it became apparent that she is the most qualified candidate to further advance the office and continue to preserve integrity and transparency in Baltimore County," Klausmeier wrote.

Support for current Inspector General Kelly Madigan

Critics, including several Baltimore County Council members, question Walker's fit for a role that has grown in significance since Madigan established the office in 2020. 

Madigan has led investigations into government waste and ethics violations, earning recognition for her work.

"The inspector general's role is to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse in county government," said Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka. "It's a difficult job to take. It's not like being the director of public works or the director of transportation or planning."

Patoka and others have voiced concern that Walker lacks institutional knowledge of Baltimore County agencies and suggest Madigan, who has already proven herself, should be retained.

"Like any business, if you have a good employee, you want that employee to stay with you," Patoka said. "You don't want to tell that employee to reapply."

Current IG told to reapply for reappointment

The controversial nomination of Walker traces back to May, when Madigan was informed she needed to reapply for her position. It caught many residents and county leaders off guard.

Klausmeier has since faced scrutiny over the transparency of the selection process.

In an open letter released Monday, Klausmeier defended her actions and emphasized her obligation to follow the county charter, which was amended in 2023 to designate the county executive as the appointing authority for the inspector general. 

The charter gives the county council final approval.

"This process, which names the county executive as the appointing authority, was passed unanimously by this council and, subsequently, Baltimore County voters," Klausmeier wrote.

Residents criticize the inspect general nomination process 

Supporters of Madigan say the process, while technically legal, undermines the independence of the inspector general's office.

"Kelly Madigan has always wanted a second term," said David Williams, a Baltimore County resident. "She has not been shy about that." 

Williams added that, "Baltimore County and every IG needs to be an investigator. Auditing is fantastic, but there's a separate function for that elsewhere."

County executive responds to appointment process concerns

In a memo issued Monday evening, Klausmeier responded to what she called misinformation about the selection process. She acknowledged that residents have raised "serious concerns" about the integrity of the process for months.

Klausmeier said the Inspector General Selection Panel was tasked with interviewing candidates and recommending the most qualified applicants for consideration. She emphasized that she followed a new, voter-approved process outlined in the Baltimore County charter.

"In December 2023, this same County Council passed a charter amendment that put this process in the Baltimore County charter," Klausmeier wrote. "This process—which names the county executive as the appointing authority—was passed unanimously by this council and, subsequently, Baltimore County voters."

She said she opted for an open, competitive search rather than automatically reappointing the incumbent. Madigan was allowed to compete for the job.

Critics have argued that the selection process should have been conducted by an independent panel.

Responding to concerns about Walker's qualifications, Klausmeier said the county charter requires auditing experience for the inspector general position.

"Ms. Walker has extensive experience leading audits of large federal programs, a commonplace and valuable skill for inspectors general," Klausmeier wrote. "Auditors are well-trained in identifying waste, fraud and abuse. Moreover, Ms. Walker has demonstrated experience leading both audits and investigations."