A “Bipartisan Rally for Integrity” will be held at the Towson Historic Courthouse next Tuesday to demand the reappointment of Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan and to denounce the “mishandled, politicized process” by County Executive Kathy Klausmeier.

The event will take place at 3 p.m., shortly before the County Council’s next work session on July 29 where concerns about the integrity and independence of the inspector general’s office are expected to be raised.

The seven-member body must ratify Klausmeier’s choice for inspector general, which “will be shared with the public in the coming weeks,” according to her office.

This follows weeks of controversy after Klausmeier made the surprise decision in May not to reappoint Madigan to a second term and undertake an “open search” of candidates, leading to charges that the process was stacked against Madigan because her investigative reports have angered high-ranking politicians, including former County Executive (now U.S. Congressman) Johnny Olszewski.

Olszewski has denied the charge.

“For more than 70 days, we’ve seen a respected IG targeted by a process full of conflicts of interest, conflicting messages and suspected political interference,” said Peta Richkus, one of the rally organizers. “We’re calling on the County Council to reject any nominee other than Kelly Madigan.”

Earlier today. the nationwide Association of Inspectors General slammed Klausmeier for undermining an office charged with rooting out waste, fraud and abuse in county government.

Last month, a majority of County Council members vowed only to back Madigan for the IG post. Whether the majority will hold up in the face of pressure from the administration has come under question.

“This isn’t about politics. It’s about protecting the public trust,” says rally co-organizer Julie Henn.

• See here for The Brew’s full coverage of the IG appointment controversy.