Wichita mayor fires back after ethics complaint from firefighters union

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Update: Wichita Mayor Lily Wu responded to the ethics complaint against her filed by the union representing the Wichita Fire Department, IAFF Local 35. The complaint centered around a meeting Wu allegedly had with Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow in which, the union said, Wu told the chief the department will have to eliminate 42 positions.

Wu made the following statement:

“Although the firefighters union has chosen to file a false and frivolous complaint and then make the allegations public through a press release in an apparent attempt to further its purpose of damaging my reputation, I respect the right of the Ethical Council to do their work confidentially and without public interference.

I vehemently deny all allegations. I will respond in writing tomorrow (Tuesday) and will fully cooperate with any follow-up investigation.

My support for public safety, including the Wichita Fire Department, is well documented. This is just a continuation of the union’s repeated attacks and attempts to damage my reputation, which began during last year’s mayoral campaign.”

The union representing the Wichita Fire Department has filed an ethics complaint against Wichita Mayor Lily Wu. The complaint concerns a meeting the mayor allegedly had with Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow and a personnel-related instruction given outside a public meeting.

The International Association of Firefighters, Local 135 (IAFF Local 35) said it filed a complaint against Wu last Wednesday, October 23, alleging “undue influence and instruction of a department head.” The union pointed to a city ordinance that it said the mayor violated.

“While meeting with Chief Snow, IAFF Local 135 President, Ted Bush, was informed by Chief Snow that Mayor Lily Wu came to her individually and outside of any public city council meeting or action and informed her that Chief Snow had to lay off 42 employees within the Wichita Fire Department before the end of 2025, and that it had no choice,” the union said.

IAFF Local 135 said Chief Snow told Bush the meeting was at Wu’s sole discretion.

“As communicated by Chief Snow, Mayor Wu visited her office and informed her of the above and told her that she did not care how she did it, but that she had to reduce the staff by 42 positions. “Chief Snow agreed to implement the layoffs, but informed her of the extremely negative impact it would have on the Wichita Fire Department and the city of Wichita,” the union said.

The union cited the ordinance that the mayor allegedly violated. In a press release announcing the complaint, IAFF Local 35 offered the following text from the ordinance.

No instructions or directions shall be given by individual Council members to department heads or to other City employees, who shall immediately refer such instructions to the City Manager, who in turn shall bring such improper actions to the attention of the entire Council for such action. as may be appropriate in each particular case.” (Ord. No. 47-858, Section 17, 3-28-08).

“Mayor Wu’s communication to Chief Snow was in clear violation of the above ordinance, and was an attempt to exert undue influence and/or coercion by a single member of the City Council over a department head, and more specifically in the manner in which the department head leading her department, which is strictly prohibited by ordinance, is inappropriate and unethical,” IAFF Local 35 said in its press release.

The union also cited a study from the city of Wichita that found the department is short more than 100 members at current levels.

In September 2022, the city of Wichita received a $10.2 million grant from FEMA to hire 42 firefighters. Chief Snow said the department planned to hire two additional trucking companies. She said the department could also add a fourth firefighter to the department’s existing truck companies.

Regarding the complaint against Wichita’s mayor, Union President Ted Bush made the following statement:

“As a concerned member of Local 135 and a member of this community, I believe that transparency and accountability are critical to maintaining public trust in our city officials and in our public safety services. Therefore, any potential violation of city ordinances or ethical standards by public officials must be thoroughly and fairly investigated. We all count on a fair and transparent process by the City of Wichita Ethics Board and we have confidence in the board’s ability to objectively review the evidence and reach a decision.

Decisions on expenditure fall under the full authority of the municipal council and the city council. Hiring decisions belong to departments. Any attempt to circumvent that process is deeply concerning. The impact of this conversation in particular could have seriously harmed our ability to protect the citizens of Wichita and each other.

The citizens of Wichita, and the firefighters who serve them, deserve leaders who act with honesty and integrity – and it is critical that this issue is addressed with the seriousness it requires. If the investigation confirms that local regulations and/or ethical guidelines have been violated, appropriate action should be taken as quickly as possible.”

The union also responded strongly to the reported request for staff reductions following a