WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – More than 100 pages – that’s the length of Wichita Mayor Lily Wu’s response to an ethics complaint filed by the International Association of Firefighters – Local 135, which represents the Wichita Fire Department.

The complaint alleges she improperly influenced Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow.

“So on Tuesday at 6:01 p.m., I sent my written response, which is more than 100 pages long, to the ethics officer, and I will let the investigation continue,” Wu said. “And I’ll have more to say about that when the investigation is over.”

The city’s ethics officer received the complaint on Oct. 23, alleging Wu told Snow he needed to lay off 42 employees before the end of 2025.

The 42 fire stations are financed by a $10.2 million federal grant awarded in 2022which expires at the end of next year.

Wu was asked what preparations are being made, knowing that the grant to fund the firefighter positions will expire soon. She said those questions should be asked of City Manager Robert Layton, not her.

“Again, this happened before I took office,” Wu said. “These grant-funded positions were approved in 2022. And again, those questions should be directed to the city manager.”

Earlier this week, Wu issued a strongly worded statement denying the allegations, calling them “false and frivolous”.

The ethics commission’s investigation will take several weeks. The board will vote on the complaint in public once the investigation is complete and the findings have been discussed in executive session.

The board’s report will be posted on the Board of Ethics page a Wichita.gov TO Ethics Council | Wichita, KS.

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