Latest news with #KellyMadigan
CBS News
25-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Council pushes back after Baltimore County executive bypasses Inspector General for reappointment
Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier is facing criticism from county leaders and community members after announcing that she will not reappoint current Inspector General Kelly Madigan. She instead nominated Khadija Walker to take over. The decision comes despite broad support for Madigan among council members. She helped establish the office and has served as inspector general for the past five years. "We have this binary choice of yes, we accept this nominee, or we don't," County Councilman Izzy Patoka said. "A majority of members have said that they really are only going to support Madigan – including me." Klausmeier's nominee, Khadija Walker, spent most of her career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Chicago, largely as a program analyst. In a news release Thursday, the county executive said Walker "has more than 22 years of high-level inspector general experience." However, some government watchdogs and councilmembers argue that the county's inspector general role requires a more investigative focus. Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming said that while Walker has auditing experience, the position in Baltimore County demands a deeper focus on rooting out "waste, fraud and abuse across municipal government." Patoka also voiced concerns about the process. "She [Madigan] began the office, and I thought she should have been reappointed," he said. "A number of my colleagues felt like she should have been reappointed. The county executive decided to go in a different direction." If the council rejects Walker's nomination, Madigan will remain in the role until a new nominee is put forward. "I think a good number of the councilmembers would like Ms. Madigan's name forwarded to be reappointed," Patoka added. The nomination is scheduled to be discussed at the Baltimore County Council's July 29 work session, followed by a vote during an upcoming legislative session. Madigan has not responded to WJZ's request for comment.
CBS News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Baltimore County eyes Independent Inspector General Board after city watchdog's warning
What began as a warning from Baltimore City's top watchdog back in May is now inching toward reality in Baltimore County. In a story first reported by WJZ, Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming cautioned county leaders that their Inspector General's independence could be compromised without structural protections, just as city voters moved to safeguard hers in 2022. An appointment board proposed Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka is proposing to establish an inspector general appointment board. Patoka's proposal would create a seven-member independent board responsible for appointing and reappointing the county's Inspector General, insulating the process from political influence. The effort comes amid controversy surrounding current Inspector General Kelly Madigan, who says she was blindsided when Interim County Executive Kathy Klausmeier required her to reapply for the position she helped create five years ago. "Thirty-four public reports, five annual reports... made over a hundred recommendations," Madigan said when she spoke with WJZ in early May, underscoring her office's accomplishments. Patoka stressed that this would not be an advisory or oversight group. "Let me repeat, it is not an advisory board," he said. "It is not an oversight board. It is an appointment board." Risking undermining the Inspector General In May, WJZ spoke with Cumming in Baltimore City, where an 87% majority of voters approved a charter amendment to create an independent advisory board free of elected officials. She warned then that Baltimore County risked undermining its own Inspector General without similar action. "Saying you have an Inspector General that's independent but keeping her under the watchdog of an elected official—that's not true independence," Cumming said. What's the purpose of the appointment board? Cumming is publicly supporting Patoka's proposal. "I strongly support this bill," she said Monday. "As the Inspector General of Baltimore City, I worked with the City Council to pass a similar amendment. I have complete confidence Baltimore County voters will stand with their Inspector General as ours did." Under Patoka's proposal, the appointment board would consist of: A County Executive appointee A County Council appointee A retired judge selected by the Director of the Ethics Commission A member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners A member of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants A faculty member from a Baltimore County college or university A faculty member from a Historically Black College or University in the Baltimore region Madigan is being interviewed for reappointment Madigan is undergoing a formal interview process to determine whether she will be reappointed. Patoka says he hopes her name is forwarded to the council. "I'm hoping we can be beyond this point and move on with the other business of Baltimore County government," Patoka said. If the charter amendment gains five votes on the County Council, it would go before voters in the 2026 election.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Public support grows for Baltimore County inspector general amid reappointment controversy
Public support is mounting for Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan after County Executive Kathy Klausmeier informed her that she must reapply for the job she has held since the role's inception in 2019. Madigan, who has served as the county's top watchdog for five years, was notified by a letter that she would not be automatically reappointed. Currently, Baltimore County's charter gives the executive the authority to appoint the inspector general, a system critics say creates an inherent conflict of interest. "The county executive is conflicted, there is no question about it," said Isabel Cumming, Baltimore City's inspector general. "She is within the jurisdiction of the inspector general." Madigan's future remains uncertain as she undergoes the reapplication process, which will remain open for three weeks. In the meantime, the debate has rekindled broader discussions about transparency, accountability, and the structural independence of government watchdogs in Baltimore County. "I have to put my energy into the things I can control, gathering my application, updating my resume," Madigan said. Baltimore City allows citizen oversight Baltimore City previously addressed a similar concern by shifting appointment power from elected officials to a citizen oversight board — a change approved by 89% of voters through a 2022 ballot initiative known as Question I. "Question I for independence — real independence," Cumming said. "Because saying you have an inspector general but keeping her under the watchdog of an elected official, that's not true independence." Elected leaders show support County Councilman Izzy Patoka is among the officials voicing strong support for Madigan, citing her deep understanding of county agencies. "She understands the nuances of each agency," Patoka said. "Bringing on someone new would create a whole new learning curve for that person." Patoka agrees that reform is needed in Baltimore County. "Baltimore County has had an interesting history, I'll say — and we do need a watchdog," Patoka said. Six of the seven County Council members have publicly supported Madigan. The only holdout is Councilman Julian Jones, who previously introduced amendments aimed at limiting the inspector general's authority. Patoka said his constituents have voiced no opposition to the office. "The only folks that I hear that from are people that have been in elected office," Patoka added. "So that's peculiar in itself." Cumming said the solution is simple: "Baltimore County, you need to catch up. You need to protect your inspector general."
CBS News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Baltimore County Inspector General told she will need to reapply instead of being reappointed
Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan was informed that she will not be reappointed to the position and will need to reapply during an open hiring process. In a statement shared with WJZ, Madigan said she met with County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, who told her the county would be hiring for the position and Madigan was "welcome to reapply." The decision has sparked concerns among some community leaders. Baltimore County hiring inspector general Madigan finished a five-year term as inspector general in January. According to our partners at The Baltimore Banner, she was hoping the county executive would reappoint her for a second term. "I love the job," Madigan told the Banner. "Of course, I want to stay and finish it out. I want to give Baltimore County four more years of my hard work." However, during a meeting, Klausmeier's office provided a letter indicating Madigan would not be reappointed. Under state law, the county executive has the ability to reapoint an inspector general. Baltimore County Councilman shares concern over open hiring In a letter sent to the county executive, Baltimore County Councilman Izzy Patoka shared his support for Madigan. "Ms. Madigan has done an outstanding job over her five years of leadership of the Inspector General's office," Patoka wrote. "It is very difficult to create a new office for a government entity. It is especially difficult in Ms. Madigan's case, given the nature of her mission and work program." The councilman also expressed concern about the need for Madigan to reapply for the inspector general position. "Ms. Madigan has worked hard to understand the nuances of each county agency," Patoka wrote. "I am concerned that the selection of a new inspector general would need time to gain the knowledge that Ms. Madigan has already achieved in terms of the complexity of county government." "I am urging you to suspend this open hiring process for the Baltimore County Inspector General and reappoint Ms. Madigan," he added. Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming also expressed concern over the open hiring process. "UNBELIEVABLE! Shame on Acting Balt County Executive Katherine Klausmeirer for playing politics with IG Kelly Madigan," IG Cumming said in a social media post. "The law allows the [County Executive] to reappoint her, but NO - she is making the IG reapply for her own job!" Last month, IG Madigan was named fraud fighter of the year by the Maryland chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Baltimore Banner reported.
