Hunter
04/17/26
A cartoon meme led to the resignation of the Fairfax City Administrator, just 8 months after his hire.
KCRG TV reports Chris Phillips claimed the mayor created a hostile work environment. He agreed to resign after a closed session at the Fairfax City Council meeting earlier this week.
Documents shared ahead of the meeting showed Phillips accusing Mayor Jo Ann Beer of creating a hostile work environment, and that, quote, “this inept attitude is now shared by several new council members.”
Phillips claimed fictitious complaints were being filed with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. The mayor said Phillips shared a cartoon showing a bike rider poking a stick in his own wheel and falling down. The meme included the mayor’s name and other city council members, and Beer said she felt threatened by the meme.
Another complaint, from city council member Cindy Anderson, claimed that Phillips had stopped and yellled profanity at her while shoveling the sidewalk.
Sheriff’s deputies note the incidents are part of an ongoing issue after the city council fired City Clerk Cynthia Stimson in January. She was rehired the next month in a temporary capacity until June 30th.
Phillips said that firing and what he called fabricated allegations against him led to his decision to resign.