Arlington Library Advisory Board Chairman removed due to Facebook post

The chairman of the Arlington Library Advisory Board was removed from office this week following backlash over her social media post in which she criticized board members in the midst of a debate over LGBTQ displays.

City Council members voted 8-0 to remove Kat Cerna-Horn from her position.

Tuesday night’s vote came after Cerna-Horn posted a message on a private Facebook group ahead of the library board’s December meeting. Last fall, the Advisory Board voted to recommend that Pride Month screenings be for teens and adults only.as well as highlight other areas of libraries for LGBTQ materials.

Her post called on people to speak out against censorship and also called on specific council members, Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said Wednesday.

“It has nothing to do with inclusion here in Arlington,” Mayor Ross said in an interview with NBC 5 on Wednesday. “It’s not about who’s right and who’s wrong when it comes to religion. It is about the proper conduct of a board member appointed by the council.”

During public comments, two residents voiced their support for Cerna-Horn’s removal from her position. Cynthia Montgomery of Arlington called her comments “unprofessional”, accusing her of “feigning respect” for various points of view.

“As it turned out, she was presenting one face to the public and another to those she begged to help promote her…and I quote…from her original Facebook post…“angry Christians and fundamentalists,” Montgomery said.

Cerna-Horn spoke at the meeting along with others who opposed her removal. She said she was previously told that her post didn’t need to be removed.

“In addition to trying to convince me to still resign despite my values ​​and ethics, I was offered political favors and it was cited that the reason the council needed to vote this way was to ensure that the people will remain politically on the same level in future elections,” she said. .

Mayor Ross denied any political favors were being offered and said he was not aware of any talk of whether the post could potentially remove her from office. Ross confirmed that she was offered to resign of her own accord.

He added that he hoped the decision, taken on Tuesday evening, would put an end to the controversy.

“I love and respect the former chairman. She is a passionate, intelligent woman who truly wants to serve this community,” he said. “I’m tired of people hating each other. They say no, but this is hate rhetoric. We’re better than Arlington, North Texas, Texas. We are better than that.”

Zoe Wilkerson has been named the new Chair of the Arlington Library Advisory Board. The meeting will take place on Thursday.