Baltimore, MD –  Today, Common Cause Maryland urged Baltimore County’s interim County Executive Katherine Klausmeier to immediately reappoint award-winning Inspector General Kelly Madigan for a second term. Over 250 residents and six out of seven Baltimore County Councilmembers have also stated support for her reappointment. 

“It is deeply concerning that, even following voters’ approval on the ballot in 2024 to strengthen the Baltimore County Office of Inspector General (OIG), some local government officials have found yet another way to disrupt the work of the office,” said Joanne Antoine, executive director of Common Cause Maryland. 

“At a time when trust in our government is at an all-time low, the Office of the Inspector General plays a key role in rebuilding this trust by holding our elected officials accountable and increasing transparency. Reappointing the current Inspector General should be a simple priority to continue this critical work. But instead, the interim County Executive is derailing a standard reappointment to create unnecessary chaos. Any process that would allow local elected officials to have increased influence over the appointment of the Inspector General, the very person responsible for holding them accountable, is a major conflict of interest.” 

“Hundreds of constituents and the majority of the County Council have publicly shared their support for Inspector General Madigan, so the interim County Executive should honor the will of the people. We urge the County Executive: immediately reappoint Inspector General Madigan so she can continue faithfully serving the people of Baltimore County.” 

Antoine previously served on the Baltimore County Blue Ribbon Commission on Ethics and Accountability, which was established in October 2021 to perform a comprehensive review and evaluation of Baltimore County’s Office of Inspector General.  

Common Cause Maryland would support legislation, if introduced, that would allow an independent advisory board to oversee the appointment process of future Inspector Generals.  

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