The Virginia Beach City Councilman thought it was an innocent Halloween costume, but it turned into much more than that.
    
Councilman Bill DeSteph went to a fundraiser costume party as a "grant three wishes" genie in a lamp he purchased in a local costume store.
    
WAVY.com got  pictures of DeSteph in what could be construed as a sexually suggestive costume, "I took it for what it was - a genie. I dressed up as a genie, and I don't have any problem with that."
    
But the genie in the lamp costume Desteph wore included the words "Rub Me" over DeSteph's private area.
    
WAVY.com asked DeSteph, "Do you think it's appropriate to have the words "rub me"  on the costume where they appear?"  DeSteph replied, "As a Genie, no. It's on a genie's lamp, so I don't see any problem with that. It's on a genie's lamp."
    
The picture was taken October 24, at old Cavalier Hotel during "The Monster Mash" which is an annual benefit raising money for The Seton Youth Shelters for abused children.  
    
WAVY.com contacted Seton's Executive Director Paul Saley by phone, "If the issue is that it is a person in a position of responsibility, then I think it's poor judgment."   Saley does not remember the "rub me" part of the costume, but does remember the genie at the party.
    
In fact after the party, DeSteph himself got a complaint. "I had a young lady call me after the party. She thought the costume could be construed in a different way. I told her that was not the intent of the costume or anything like that.  It was a genie in a lamp."
    
WAVY.com received the picture because people construed it as inappropriate.

They said, "How about those who think it's offensive for a city councilman in an elective position to be wearing "rub me," which could be suggestive for people to rub you where the words appear." 

"Well for those I apologize, but it was meant as a genie in a lamp. If they took it the wrong way I apologize, but it was meant to be a genie in a lamp.  Nothing provocative or nothing otherwise."
    
Saley says people in his position are always held to a higher standard. "As executive director of The Seton House,  I would not wear that costume as a role model or as a person of position. It's poor judgment."