Saying he is “extremely concerned” about Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s decision to conduct an open search for a new inspector general, Councilman Izzy Patoka (D, 2d) today threw his support behind Kelly Madigan, the incumbent IG.

“I am urging you to suspend this open hiring process . . . and reappoint Ms. Madigan,” Patoka wrote this afternoon, the first council member to publicly dissent from Klausmeier’s surprise plan, disclosed earlier today by The Brew, not to reappoint Madigan to a second term.

His statement is significant because he is one of the seven council members who will vote on any future replacement of Madigan and is widely expected to run for county executive in 2026.

In the past, other councilmen – Wade Kach (R, 3rd), David Marks (R, 5th), Mike Ertel (D, 6th) and Todd K. Crandell (R, 7th) – have been supportive of IG Madigan, while Julian E. Jones Jr. (D, 4th) has been openly critical.

So far, none of them has responded to questions by The Brew about their level of support for Madigan.

9 P.M. UPDATE: Councilman Marks says he also favors the retention of Madigan as inspector general, telling The Brew tonight:

“If the statute needs to be changed to allow a county executive to renominate a sitting inspector general, then I – for one – would happily endorse that change. Kelly Madigan has been a force for independence and accountability, and I support her continuing in this role.”

CE Changes Tune

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Klausmeier offered a significantly more positive assessment of Madigan’s work late today than the county executive’s earlier letter, which informed Madigan that her term as IG had expired and she was currently “in a holdover capacity.”

“Inspector General Madigan has performed honorably in her ongoing work in ensuring the integrity and efficiency of Baltimore County government on behalf of the residents of Baltimore County,” the statement read.

• EXCLUSIVE: Klausmeier declines to reappoint Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan (5/13/25)

Asserting that the county code requires the executive to conduct an open search for the IG position, the statement said the county executive “encourages the Inspector General to apply for a second term in this critical role.”

The previous letter said Madigan could apply for her current position “if you are interested in remaining with Baltimore County Government.”

Code Provision

Section 3-14-103(b)(2) of the county code allows Klausmeier to directly reappoint Madigan to a second four-year term, which many observers expected to happen after she was selected by the council to fill the remaining two-year term of Johnny Olszewski, who was elected to Congress.

In his letter [below], Patoka noted that Madigan was hired five years ago “to create a new office for a government entity.”

“Ms. Madigan has done an outstanding job . . . given the nature of her mission and work program,” Patoka wrote, alluding to the blowback by some council members to her early investigative reports.

“Ms. Madigan has worked hard to understand the nuances of each county agency. I am concerned that . . . 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. Additionally, I am worried that replacing Ms. Madigan at this time would damage the continuity of staff dynamics in her office.”

Root Out Waste

Madigan’s first term was fraught with challenges to her authority by both the administration and several council members.

After Madigan published reports in 2021 that questioned purchases at the Ag Center by William “Chris” McCollum, Olszewski attempted to strip the office’s independence through hastily-drawn legislation. The legislation was withdrawn after a public outcry.

Last November, county voters approved ballot “Question B” that established the Office of the Inspector General within the county code so that no future county executive or council could eliminate the office.

Part of his 2018 platform in his run for county executive, the office was established by Olszewski with a mission to root out waste and fraud and promote accountability in county government.