ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WBFF) — Former Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan could face a hurdle before taking her new job as Howard County’s inaugural inspector general, due to a “serious ethics violation” complaint filed on Friday.
A written complaint filed with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the county council, obtained by Spotlight on Maryland, shows that civil rights attorney Tonya Bana filed the complaint on behalf of a Howard County resident and an appointed member of Howard County’s Inspector General Advisory Board. The complainant’s name was redacted in the copy.
“We write to bring to your attention serious ethics violations by fellow Board member David S. Quisenberry,” the complaint said. “[Violations] that ultimately resulted in Kelly Madigan being appointed.”
The complaint alleged that Quisenberry violated ethics rules by “affecting the outcome of the Board’s deliberations” in choosing Madigan because he previously worked with her as her deputy inspector general in the Baltimore County Office of the Inspector General. His nomination, according to the complaint, to the inspector general board was orchestrated by Madigan.
Madigan is set to formally accept her position with Howard County on Monday.
“In subsequent comments to the press, Ms. Madigan disclosed that she used her relations with County Council Member Liz Walsh…to orchestrate Mr. Quisenberry’s nomination to the Board.”
“While Mr. Quisenberry abstained from interviewing or casting a vote for Ms. Madigan, he actively participated in all other aspects of the decision-making process and never stepped out of meetings when the discussion centered on Ms. Madigan,” the complaint added.
Madigan appointed Quisenberry, her deputy in Baltimore County, to serve as the county’s acting inspector general during the transition.
Madigan, Quisenberry and Walsh could not immediately be reached on Friday by phone.
Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cummings told Spotlight on Maryland on Friday evening she isn’t concerned about the complaint letter.
“I believe Howard County is very fortunate to have selected Kelly Madigan as its inspector general,” Cummings said. “She has always shown the highest integrity in everything she does.
“I think she is an excellent inspector general,” Cummings added.
Howard County Board of Elections records show that voters overwhelmingly approved – by 85.6% — the establishment of a county-level inspector general office. As a result of county council legislation, the seven-member Inspector General Advisory Board was established.
According to Howard County’s website, the board was immediately tasked with selecting an inspector general, reviewing completed investigations, and reviewing and recommending the inspector general’s office budget.
Madigan was the subject of a seven-month fight to keep her job as Baltimore County’s inspector general after County Executive Kathy Klauseimer refused to reappoint her to a second term automatically. Klauseimer instead launched her own selection process and nominated an out-of-state candidate to fill Madigan’s role.
After months of public outcry and heated debate on the Baltimore County Council, Madigan’s replacement was ultimately rejected by the council. Madigan was then automatically granted a “holdover” status in the Baltimore County position, but that status was upended after her announced resignation from the post in December.
Much of the debate around Klauseimer’s decision focused on the lack of public transparency in the inspector general nomination process.
This story is developing and may be updated.
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