Marion Commissioner Quits Due To Inappropriate Costume

If you don't think a Halloween costume can get you in trouble, you are indeed mistaken. The Cedar Rapids Gazette is reporting that a member of the Marion Planning and Zoning Commision quit on Monday after the city investigated complaints that she posted photos of her and her husband on social media dressed up like an illegal immigrant being captured by a border patrol agent.

A statement by the city of Marion did not name the woman who quit. However, city officials did confirm to the Gazette that the person who left was Realtor Deb Callahan. Her term on the board was set to expire in December of 2021. The Gazette reports that Callahan and her husband were seen in photos on Facebook dressed as a member of border patrol, and her husband wearing a sombrero and holding a bottle of tequila. The caption for the picture read, "Border patrol caught an undocumented immigrant tonight."

The Gazette attempted to reach Callahan but she refused comment. A statement from the real estate company where she worked issued this statement on Monday. "Deb Callahan is no longer an agent at Skogman Realty."

The city of Marion said that it made the decision after it received "concerns about a city commissioner's social media posts." The photos were shared a number of times and had been roundly criticized as racially and culturally insensitive. The Gazette reports that the city of Marion said in a statement that "the city appreciates residents reporting these types of concerns and takes them seriously."