The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday appointed Megan Limarzi to be the next inspector general. Limarzi, currently the clerk of the council, will begin Sept. 1.
Limarzi replaces Edward Blansitt, who announced in January that he would retire this month and move to Charlotte, N.C.
Blansitt has been in the position since 2011, serving a partial term until 2013, followed by a full term until 2017. Limarzi will complete the remainder of Blansitt’s second full term, which ends June 30, 2021.
The council created the inspector general’s office in 1997 as a watchdog to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in government and to increase productivity. The inspector general produces audits of county agencies and other investigative reports. The office includes the inspector general, a deputy inspector general and three investigative analysts, according to the office’s website.
Prior to her time with the council, Limarzi served as the inspector general of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
She also spent more than a decade as a prosecutor, serving in multiple roles in the state attorney general’s office and as an assistant state’s attorney in Montgomery County for four years, according to a press release.
Council President Nancy Navarro said Tuesday the council chose Limarzi from three candidates recommended by an independent panel. Limarzi stood out, Navarro said, because of her experience as an inspector general and a prosecutor.
“She is someone who is highly attentive to detail and we felt she was the right person to lead at this moment,” she said.
Limarzi said she felt well-prepared for the job.
“The time I’ve spent here at the council has given me a lot of insight into the programs that the county offers and I’ve gotten to meet a lot of the personnel, so I think it’s gonna be a great opportunity to get a running start,” she said.
Limarzi said she wants to take her time before deciding which areas of county government to prioritize.
Dan Schere can be reached at Daniel.schere@moco360.media
