Council should reject choice for Baltimore County Inspector General

Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier has nominated Khadija Walker to replace Kelly Madigan as the County’s Inspector General. The nomination is subject to confirmation by the county council.  We urge the council to reject the nomination.  Even if the council were to overlook the irregularities with respect to the process by which Klausmeier came to her decision to nominate Walker, Walker is not best qualified for the job.

Inspectors General play an important role in rooting out inefficiency, waste, cronyism, and corruption in government.  Baltimore County is no stranger to these problems.  Although the days of County Executives Spiro Agnew and Dale Anderson are long past, questions regarding county government persist.  For example, Madigan investigated allegations of cronyism in the administration of recently departed County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

Olszewski, who is now a member of Congress, established the Office of Inspector General when he was initially elected as county executive. Klausmeier, who was appointed county executive to fill out the remainder of Olszewski’s second term when he left for Washington, declined to automatically reappoint Madigan when her initial term as Inspector General ended. Klausmeier appointed a five-member selection panel to recommend a nominee for the job. After the five-member panel narrowed the field of 23 applicants to three recommendations, Klausmeier then took control of the process along with panel member Arthur Elkins and Baltimore County Ethics Chair Mandee Heinl. The Klausmeier-led rump selection panel then selected Walker, who worked under Elkins when he was Inspector General of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Walker’s roles at US EPA and later as USAID were primarily as an auditor. The role of an inspector general is far broader than being just an auditor. For example, Madigan, the current Inspector General is a member of the Maryland Bar and formerly was a prosecutor in the offices of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office and Maryland State Prosecutor. Walker resides in Fredericksburg, Virginia. She has no first-hand knowledge of Baltimore County and it is not clear whether she intends to move to Baltimore County or just work from home over 100 miles away.

Madigan has done a good job as Inspector General.  Walker is a poor substitute for Madigan.  Even if Klausmeier wanted to replace Madigan, there are better qualified candidates than Walker.  We urge the County Council to reject Walker’s nomination to be Inspector General.

Editorial Advisory Board Members Ericka King and Angela Russell did not participate in this opinion.

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

James B. Astrachan, Chair

James K. Archibald

Gary E. Bair

Arthur F. Fergenson

Nancy Forster

Susan Francis

Julie C. Janofsky

Ericka N. King

George Liebmann

George Nilson

Catherine Curran O’Malley

Angela W. Russell

Debra G. Schubert

Jeff Sovern

H. Mark Stichel

The Daily Record Editorial Advisory Board is composed of members of the legal profession who serve voluntarily and are independent of The Daily Record. Through their ongoing exchange of views, members of the board attempt to develop consensus on issues of importance to the bench, bar and public. When their minds meet, unsigned opinions will result. When they differ, or if a conflict exists, majority views and the names of members who do not participate will appear. Members of the community are invited to contribute letters to the editor and/or columns about opinions expressed by the Editorial Advisory Board.