TOWSON, Md. (WBFF) — Months after being told to re-apply for her job, sitting for interviews, facing questions, ultimately not getting picked, only to be told she can stay, Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan said she’s had enough.
Effective January 2, Madigan will no longer serve as the county’s watchdog after stepping into the inaugural role and building the office from the ground up.
ALSO READ | Klausmeier defends inspector general process while avoiding public questions from media
“I’ve built an office that the public trusts and respects, which is hard to do,” Madigan said during an interview with FOX45 News. “I just think that the safeguards that need to be in place are not in place.”
Madigan served as inspector general for more than one full term, and in May, County Executive Kathy Klausmeier sent her a letter indicating the job would soon be posted. Madigan was welcome to apply for her job, the note outlined. Madigan said she was taken by surprise, especially since the two leaders had yet to really talk about the work of the Office of Inspector General.
Klausmeier’s decision to open the job search sparked a firestorm of frustration from some members of the County Council and the public. Meetings were held, though most of the discussion wasn’t held in public, and interviews were conducted.
Madigan made it to the final round of interviews, but Klausmeier herself also participated in some of the interviewing – which was against best practices for inspectors general. Ultimately, Klausmeier picked someone other than Madigan; a woman with decades of experience as an auditor in offices of inspector general at the federal level, but never an IG specifically. After intense public pushback and scrutiny, the Baltimore County Council rejected Klausmeier’s pick and Madigan stayed in her role as a holdover until voters elected the next county executive.
ALSO READ | Future changes could be coming to the Baltimore County Inspector General selection process
“When you’re in a holdover, you don’t have the protections of being in a term,” Madigan explained. “So, I could issue one report, and they could decide to set forth proceedings to replace me. The reports, by their nature, are not popular because they’re oversight and they’re oversight for the very same officials in Baltimore County that have control over your job future.”
It’s a best practice in the IG community to serve a set period of time, to have a term, Madigan said.
When asked if she’s leaving specifically because of Klausmeier, Madigan said she is not. But it appears the actions from the current leader led to this decision.
“If she had chosen to reappoint me, it’s likely that I would have and stayed and served a second term in Baltimore County,” Madigan said.
Kelly Madigan announced she’s leaving Baltimore County to be the first inspector general of Howard County. (WBFF)
Born out of the selection process drama was legislation to implement an independent selection panel. Legislation backed by Councilman Izzy Patoka to create an independent process of picking the inspector general passed and will head to voters in November 2026. It’s the same election where voters will decide who will become the next county executive.
“And when they select when they go to the ballot box and vote for their next county executive, they should be supporting a measure to have an independent selection board so that this doesn’t happen again,” Madigan said.
After years of building the Office of Inspector General from nothing in Baltimore County, Madigan reflected a bit on the work she’s accomplished. More than one thousand complaints have come into her office, over 50 reports published, and thousands of taxpayer dollars identified as waste, according to the fiscal year 2025 annual report.
“I’m very, very grateful for the support of the public and the support of the Baltimore County employees, most recently over the summer, but more importantly, over these past six years. You know, we built this office, it’s really their office,” Madigan said. “They were the ones that demanded more transparency and more oversight. They invested in the office and in exchange we produced these reports.”
It’s important, but it’s a fragile ecosystem and the citizens of Baltimore County have to continue to persevere to have an independent inspector general. It’s something that they have to continue to fight for, Madigan said.
Deputy Inspector General Steve Quisenberry was tapped to serve as acting inspector general, according to Madigan. In a statement to FOX45 News, County Executive Klausmeier wished Madigan well “in her future endeavors” and said she’s “working with our partners in the County Council in determining next steps.”
“I have received and accepted Inspector General Kelly Madigan’s resignation,” Klausmeier said via statement. “We thank Ms. Madigan for her service as the county’s first-ever inspector general, and for her commitment to strengthening transparency and accountability within Baltimore County Government.”
As she steps into a familiar role of building an office from nothing, Madigan said Howard County already has an independent selection process in place. She went through the interview process there and decided to accept the six-year term she was offered.
“I’m very excited to take my talents and skills down 95 to Howard County and create an Office of the Inspector General for the Howard County citizens,” Madigan said. “It’s something I know how to do. I’ve been successful at it, and I’m excited for the next opportunity.”
Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.
Local Story
