In an effort to defuse the firestorm over her decision not to reappoint Kelly Madigan as inspector general, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier says she will set up a panel to advise her on IG candidates.

“I will be forming a panel to review the applicants for the position and then for the panelists to send finalists for the position to me for consideration,” Klausmeier said in a letter sent yesterday to Councilman Izzy Patoka.

The letter offered no details about the panel’s membership or its timetable other than to say, “I can assure you that we intend to hold an expeditious recruitment to minimize any perceived disruptions to the work of the office.”

Klausmeier will retain the final power to select the inspector general, as compared to Baltimore City, where the inspector general is appointed by an independent panel without input from the mayor or other elected officials.

Last week, Klausmeier sent shock waves through the county after informing Madigan, charged with uncovering waste and fraud in county government, that she would not be appointed to a second term.

Klausmeier, who is filling out the term of Johnny Olszewski, who twice tried to shrink Madigan’s investigative powers while county executive, couched her decision as “best practices” guided by her staff’s interpretation of county law.

That assertion has been disputed by legal experts and by those who say the decision was driven by political considerations.

The county press office has not responded to Brew questions about the panel, its formation or its membership.

Council Backs Madigan

An open letter demanding Madigan’s reappointment, signed by 260 county residents, was delivered to the office of Klausmeier last Friday (she was in Las Vegas ahead of the International Council of Shopping Centers convention and Maryland Party).

“Good governance depends on fidelity to the law – not selective interpretations that serve political aims. We urge you to follow the statute as written and uphold the principle that merit – not manipulation – should guide appointments,” the letter said.

Six of the County Council’s seven members also say they want Madigan to remain. So has Nick Stewart, an announced candidate for county executive.

The sole holdout is 4th District Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr.

An expected candidate for county executive in 2026, Jones has been the subject of two Madigan investigations. Late last week he tweeted that “Klausmeier will in the end make the right decision about the best person for the position.”

While the council has no direct involvement in the selection process, it must confirm Klausmeier’s choice as inspector general.

Meanwhile, Olszewski, who appointed Madigan in 2020, released a statement saying that an “open” Baltimore County is vital to the “long-term success” of its communities.

“Inspector General Madigan was an important part of this work and, even when we disagreed, I have always valued her efforts to identify millions in savings and help make local government more efficient and accountable for taxpayers,” he said.