Wichita mayor responds to ethics complaint investigation

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Wichita Mayor Lily Wu on Thursday addressed the ongoing fallout from an ethics complaint filed against her. That’s after the Wichita Fire Chief told Tammy Snow Ted Bush, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) – Local 135, filed the complaint Wu ordered her to lay off 42 firefighters by the end of 2025.

Bush recorded the conversation he had with Snow that prompted him to file the complaint. When the fire chief was asked about her statements to Bush during the ethics investigation, she (Snow) said she misspoke when speaking to Bush and clarified that Wu never ordered her to fire employees.

“I just want to make it clear that this was not a misunderstanding,” Wu said during his weekly media briefing on Thursday. “I never ordered the chief to fire the firefighters. In fact, the boss has made it clear that my ultimate goal is to keep all of these positions.”

Wu expressed his sadness at the situation, saying it is not an appropriate way for the Wichita community to relate to one another, nor a constructive way to move Wichita and the fire department forward.

on Tuesday the ethics commission found no wrongdoing on Wu’s part referring to contradictory statements based on the information provided.

“I think it’s important to note that the truth is on my side,” Wu said, “and I will fight this issue as long as I need to.”

12 News has reached out to Wichita Fire Chief Tammy Snow for a response to the allegations and has requested a full transcript of the conversation between her and Bush.