Kelly Madigan announced this morning her resignation as Baltimore County’s first – and often embattled – inspector general, charged with detecting and uprooting fraud and waste in county government.

She said she has accepted the newly created position of inspector general in Howard County, effective January 5, 2026.

Last May, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier refused to reappoint Madigan to a second term, setting off a public backlash that led to the Baltimore County Council refusing to approve Klausmeier’s pick, Khadija Walker.

The end result is that Madigan has remained in a holdover position with Klausmeier refusing to reappoint her.

Madigan could have continued in that role until voters select a new county executive next year, who could then make a decision on her permanent status.

• FOR THE BREW’S FULL COVERAGE OF KLAUSMEIER’S NON-REAPPOINTMENT OF MADIGAN

In today’s resignation letter – addressed “To the Citizens of Baltimore County,” not to Klausmeier – Madigan says, “I have confronted the reality that the tools and support required to safeguard integrity in the County government continue to be restricted.”

She continued, “After the interim Baltimore County Executive chose to seek a new Inspector General, rather than extend my tenure, I interviewed for the newly created inspector general position in Howard County. When the offer was recently extended, I struggled deeply with the decision. . . I have accepted the position of Inspector General in Howard County, effective January 5, 2026.”

“I have confronted the reality that the tools and support required to safeguard integrity in the County government continue to be restricted”  – IG Kelly Madigan.

Madigan repeatedly thanked the public for its support when her office came under open attack by powerful electeds – led by Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr. and former Councilwoman Cathy Bevins – and attempts to undercut its powers legislatively by County Executive Johnny Olszewski.

Significantly, Olszewski chose not to renew Madigan’s appointment before he left for the U.S. Congress last January, leaving the decision in the hands of his successor, former 8th District state Senator Klausmeier.

Klausmeier said she wanted to conduct an open selection process for the position, which Madigan applied for but was passed over in favor of Walker, a federal auditor who said she would commute to Towson daily from her home in Fredericksburg, Va.

Following a petition drive and rally by Madigan supporters, the County Council rejected Walker in a 5-2 vote. This meant that Madigan could remain IG at least until the end of Klausmeier’s term in December 2026.

Alluding indirectly to these events, Madigan today noted that “the public support for myself and the office has been extraordinary, and it weighed heavily on my decision. Ultimately, though, I decided that continuing indefinitely in a holdover capacity was not sustainable for my family or the mission of independent oversight in Baltimore County.”

To ensure continuity, Madigan said that she has appointed Deputy Inspector General Steven Quisenberry as acting inspector general.

She also urged the public to support a November 2026 ballot question creating an independent IG Selection Board to get the position out of the control of the county executive.

“Your courage, persistence and commitment to transparency and accountability have strengthened this Office and inspired me every single day,” she said. “It has been a privilege to serve you.”

BELOW IS THE TEXT OF HER RESIGNATION LETTER: