After a months-long process clouded by criticism, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausemeier on Thursday announced she is appointing former USAID and EPA official Khadija Walker to be the county’s Inspector General.
Walker brings more than 20 years of experience at the federal level, including most recently in the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Office of the Inspector General, as well as previous roles at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s OIG.
“I am happy to appoint Khadija Walker to be Baltimore County’s next Inspector General,” Klausmeier said in a statement. “Khadija has more than 22 years of high-level Inspector General experience—notably in her work to hold the federal government accountable in the wake of the Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi water crises—which has prepared her to be a champion for communities and unafraid to challenge waste, fraud, and abuse at any level. Through our selection process, it became apparent that she is the most qualified candidate to further advance the office and continue to preserve integrity and transparency in Baltimore County government.”
Walker will need to be confirmed by the Baltimore County Council before she can begin leading the county’s inspector general office. However, that confirmation may not come easily.
WYPR reported that a majority of the council’s members have previously said they would only confirm Baltimore County’s first inspector general, Kelly Madigan, to reclaim her position, after Klausemeier decided not to reappoint her for a second term.
Six of the seven council members urged Klausmeier to reappoint Madigan, but the county executive insisted the county’s code did not permit her to reappoint Madigan.
Klausmeier hopes to win over council support for her appointee.
“I am proud to submit Khadija Walker’s name to become Baltimore County’s second-ever Inspector General and encourage our council partners to consider her proven success and wealth of experience during the confirmation process,” the county executive said.
The County Council is expected to discuss Klausmeier’s appointment of Walker at its July 29 meeting. It will then vote on whether to approve her for the inspector general role during a later meeting.
Applications were reviewed by a five-member panel comprising Rev. William Johnson, a former inspector general for the Maryland Department of Human Services; Arthur Elkins, a former inspector general for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the first inspector general for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; retired Judge Kathleen Cox, who served on bench of the Baltimore County Circuit Court, the county’s juvenile court, and the Third Judicial Court; Judge Thomas Dewberry, a former state delegate and Maryland’s first chief administrative law judge; and private practice attorney Dennis King, whom the Baltimore County Council appointed to the panel.
Panel members conducted interviews with four candidates, including Madigan, and ultimately recommended three to Klausmeier – Madigan being the one they did not recommend.
The three candidates were later interviewed by Klausmeier, panel member Arthur Elkins, and Baltimore County Ethics Commission member Mandee Heinl, the Baltimore Brew reported.
If confirmed, Walker will oversee the Office of the Inspector General, which investigates waste, fraud, and abuse in county government. The office also promotes government efficiency, accountability, and integrity.
“Baltimore County residents deserve an independent Inspector General to elevate the work of this office and put an end to waste, fraud, and abuse in our local government,” Walker said in a statement. “I am confident that my federal experience will help this office continue to eliminate corruption and enhance public trust and accountability on behalf of all residents.”
Walker’s career has included leading and conducting performance audits of drinking water, clean buses, Superfund sites that have been identified as being contaminated with hazardous substances, and other environmental program areas.
Her teams’ audits and evaluations have included the EPA’s response to Hurricanes Katrina and Irma in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She also contributed to congressional testimony for reviews of Flint, Michigan and Jackson, Mississippi.
Among the several awards Walker has received is the EPA Gold Medal, which she earned for completing work on congressional earmarks.
