Baltimore County IG nominee Khadija Walker faces scrutiny, support in public vetting

Natalie Jones

The Baltimore Sun

July 30, 2025

The former federal auditor tapped by Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier to become the county’s next inspector general faced a slew of questions and comments Tuesday that ran the gamut from scrutinizing her experience to questioning her residency.

Khadija Walker’s first public appearance in front of the Baltimore County Council came nearly three hours into the council’s work session. Walker’s husband and sister accompanied her to the meeting.

Walker told council members that she has a vision for the inspector general’s office — one that includes institutionalizing transparency, enforcing high professional standards and fostering a culture of ethics “in which staff are beyond reproach,” she said.

“The public deserves an office that is fair, fact-driven and fearless in its pursuit of accountability, and I am ready to deliver on that promise,” Walker said.

Walker would bring more than two decades of federal experience to Baltimore County. She most recently worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development as a deputy assistant inspector general for audits, inspections and evaluations. Before that, she spent more than 20 years leading or conducting audits for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General.

Some of Walker’s most notable work focused on government accountability in the water crises in Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi — examples that Klausmeier said she was particularly impressed by.

However, some council members sought further clarification on the scope of her federal experience and how she could apply it to a local government role.

Even though her roles were on a federal level, Walker said, most of her projects and evaluations focused on issues at the local level. And in those federal roles, Walker said she led and managed teams ranging from two to 20 people and supervised audit and investigation divisions with anywhere from five to 120 staff members.

Councilman Izzy Patoka, a Pikesville Democrat, asked about Walker’s experience investigating elected officials for misuse of power, unethical use of resources or misuse of funding — topics that Kelly Madigan, the current county inspector general, has issued reports about.

Another council member focused on her residency, although living in Baltimore County was not a requirement for the position. Walker acknowledged that she lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia, roughly 100 miles south of the county government offices in Towson, but said it wouldn’t interfere.

“Long commute,” said Councilman Todd Crandell, a Republican from Dundalk who asked about her location.

Many of the questions came from the council members who say they will only back Madigan. Patoka said earlier Tuesday that he would “stay on the Madigan train.” Republicans Wade Kach and David Marks have also said they would only support Madigan.

Still, Walker said the role would give her the opportunity to bring her federal experience to a community that seems to have issues she’s passionate about, including oversight in permitting, code enforcement, housing, water quality, public contracting and improving government efficiency.

“As an appointed official, I think it’s my duty to find out what is plaguing the community in terms of how the government is running and how we can make it better,” she said. “[The role of] an IG is to improve government and to enhance accountability and to suss out fraud, waste and abuse.”

Prior to the work session, Walker met with six of the seven County Council members. She has not yet met with Crandell.

“I would bring passion, I would bring integrity, I would bring openness, communication, honesty — but most importantly, ideas that can improve Baltimore County,” she said.

Walker’s comments were met with both support and scrutiny from dozens of residents who voiced their thoughts on her nomination to the role, including some who had attended a rally prior to the work session where they criticized how Klausmeier handled the appointment process.

State Del. N. Scott Phillips, a Baltimore County Democrat, urged some council members to reconsider their positions on Walker’s appointment, saying it could be a reset for the county after what has been seen as a heavily politicized process.

“An IG is not a prosecutor, an IG does not seek convictions in court,” he said. “The IG seeks truth in context, builds findings on evidence and helps government agencies function more ethically, more efficiently and more equitably.”

Shawn McIntosh, a northern Baltimore County resident, said Walker’s appointment appeared to be a political maneuver. Removing Madigan from her role when she’s proven her effectiveness, she said, sends a “dangerous” message that political interests outweigh independence.

“This is not a critique of Ms. Walker’s character or career — she seems amazing, frankly, but changing leadership in the absence of wrongdoing or performance concerns, undermines the theory of independence the IG role is supposed to protect,” she said. “It invites the perception that the Office of Inspector General is being politicized — something council should be working to prevent, not facilitate.”

The council is expected to vote on Walker’s appointment at its Aug. 4 meeting.