8-04-2025 7:49pm

County Nixes

Jeff Barto Editor

A Statement from County Executive Klausmeier about the Inspector General Council Confirmation Vote

Public Outcry and Politics Play Out In Baltimore Counry As Acting Exec. Replaces Former IG

August 4, 2025

“While I respect the County Council’s decision, I am disappointed that Khadija Walker was not confirmed this evening as Baltimore County’s next inspector general. Given her extensive experience and professional qualifications, it is disheartening that her appointment wasn’t meaningfully considered on the merits of those professional qualifications and experience.

Our open and thorough selection process not only followed the County charter—which was amended with unanimous support from the County Council fewer than two years ago—but exceeded legal requirements by including well-respected experts in the field and a Council appointee to the interview panel. This public process led to the selection of Ms. Walker as the most experienced and qualified candidate to elevate Baltimore County’s Office of the Inspector General.

I am grateful for Ms. Walker’s willingness to serve the residents of our county in this important position and am confident that her many years of high-level experience, strong sense of ethics, and integrity will make an impact in her next role. I am also appreciative of her poise and grace during what has become a highly politicized process through no fault of her own.

I was appointed by the county council to serve as county executive, and I remain focused on serving the remainder of my time in this office by supporting our dedicated employees, managing through difficult fiscal realities, and following through on community investments.

In that spirit, I intend to leave any future appointment—or reappointment—of an inspector general to the next county executive or until an independent appointment board is established by the county council and voters.

This means that the current inspector general will remain in a holdover role as her term expired in January of this year, and will continue in this role until either her successor qualifies or she is reappointed and confirmed. The office will continue its work preventing waste, fraud and abuse in county government without interruption.

Thank you to all who dedicated their time and expertise to this process including our impressive applicants, esteemed panel members and my dedicated staff. Thanks also to the community members who made their voices heard; freedom of speech truly is the bedrock of a democratic society.

Let’s move forward together focused on building a stronger future for everyone who calls Baltimore County home.”

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/_q7usyAW6E4

Two Maryland delegates urge Baltimore County Council to reject appointment of Khadija Walker as next Inspector General

Two Maryland delegates are urging the Baltimore County Council to reject the appointment of Khadija Walker as the next Inspector General and to instead reappoint the current officeholder, Kelly Madigan, as the debate over the position intensifies ahead of a scheduled vote.

Delegates Ryan Nawrocki and Kathy Szeliga issued a joint statement voicing their “strong support” for Madigan, who they say has served with “integrity, independence, and courage.”

“Baltimore County residents deserve an independent watchdog who will follow the facts, not one picked under a cloud of controversy,” Delegate Nawrocki said in the statement.

Delegate Szeliga echoed his sentiment, praising Madigan’s performance since 2020. “Since 2020, she’s done an outstanding job as our IG; thorough, accessible, and professional,” Szeliga said, noting Madigan was also named “Fraud Fighter of the Year” by a professional organization.

The delegates’ statement questions Walker’s qualifications, suggesting they are better suited for an accounting firm, and raises concerns about her residency, noting she lives more than two hours away from the county.

The delegates’ push comes as County Executive Kathy Klausmeier has defended her nomination of Walker. Klausmeier has praised Walker’s more than 22 years of federal experience, highlighting her work on audits and investigations related to the Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, water crises. Walker, who has a background in auditing, has also defended her qualifications and stated that she would move to Baltimore County if confirmed.

The council is expected to vote on the matter Monday, and if Walker’s nomination is rejected, Madigan will remain in the role. Media reports indicate that a majority of the seven-member council has already voiced opposition to the nomination.

The controversy has prompted a proposal from Councilman Izzy Patoka to establish an independent board to appoint future inspectors general, a move intended to remove politics from the selection process.