Lily Wu and the habits that hold Wichita together
Wichita Mayor Lily Wu brings a journalist’s eye and an immigrant’s perspective to questions of local government and civic life. A former television reporter who grew up in Wichita, Wu offers a hopeful vision rooted in personal responsibility, economic opportunity and the institutions that hold communities together. In this interview, she discusses rebuilding trust in City Hall, public safety, Wichita’s aerospace economy, the American dream, and the habits that keep the city united and self-governing. She spoke with American Habits editor Ray Nothstine.
Before becoming mayor, you worked in journalism and spent years talking with people across Wichita. That likely gave you a perspective many elected officials may not have. What did that experience teach you about residents and what they want from local government?
Mayor Lily Wu: I had the honor of working as a local journalist for 12 years before becoming mayor in January 2024. I still spend a lot of time in newsrooms through something we call “Mayor Mondays,” when I visit local television stations or sit down with reporters. It gives them regular, open access to me.
What I learned as a journalist is that people want local government to work. Often, they may not even realize which services are provided by the city. When you call 911, you expect a police officer, firefighter or ambulance to arrive. When you drive to school or work, you expect the streets to be maintained. Those basic services are at the heart of local government.
Journalism also allowed me to hear directly about the challenges people were facing and to experience the full range of life in Wichita. I covered celebrations, residents reaching their 100th birthdays and stories about our city’s history. As a crime reporter, I also spoke with victims’ families and followed defendants through the court system.
That experience gave me a clearer understanding of what people expect from local leaders: focus on the basics, especially public safety and public works. Beyond that, government should often serve as a convener, bringing people together to find solutions.
As a reporter, I saw the helpers in our community: the people and organizations already working to solve problems. Government does not always have to provide the answer.
Becoming a journalist was my childhood dream. I wanted to do it from the time I was eight years old, and I was fortunate to live out that dream. Eventually, I had the opportunity to run for office and serve the community in a new capacity.
Your campaign emphasized rebuilding trust in city government. How do you encourage residents to see themselves not merely as consumers of city services, but as active citizens and partners in the life of Wichita?
Wu: One of the four priorities of my campaign was restoring trust in City Hall. A large part of that involves helping residents understand how their local government works.
Wichita has a council-manager form of government, sometimes called a weak-mayor system. The six council members and the mayor have equal votes. I have no veto power, executive authority or additional staff. The city manager oversees approximately 3,100 employees, including the department heads who deliver city services.
That is why I often ask residents which council district they live in. Council members are problem-solvers who can connect residents with the right people inside city government. When someone brings an issue to me, I contact the city manager and the appropriate department so that the resident can get an answer or have the problem addressed.
Every municipality operates differently, so restoring trust begins with understanding your own local government. During the campaign, we took the idea of a traditional campaign palm card and used it to explain how Wichita’s government works: what the departments do, whom they report to and how residents can make their voices heard.
Demystifying local government has become one of my top priorities. The citizens of Wichita are ultimately the council’s bosses. My role is to help explain the system, represent the city as its chief ambassador and bring people together around solutions. Those solutions should come not only from government, but from the community itself. [pull quote]
You came to Wichita as a young immigrant and built your own American story here. At a time when many young Americans are frustrated by the rising costs of housing, groceries and everyday life, and some are turning toward socialism or broader government promises. How has your experience shaped the way you think about opportunity, personal responsibility, and what local government can and cannot provide?
Wu: My parents left communism with the hope of one day coming to America. I was born in Guatemala. My first language is Spanish, my second is Chinese—my parents’ native language—and my third is English. My family came to America to give their children greater opportunity and a better chance to realize their full potential.
I grew up in Wichita and attended public schools. I had opportunities to compete for scholarships that allowed me to attend college. I am grateful that those opportunities existed here because I believe the American dream is still alive. I am an example of it.
Teachers and mentors helped connect me with those opportunities. I still remember my counselor at Truesdell Middle School telling me about the International Baccalaureate program at a high school a bus ride away. Without her guidance, I might never have known it was available.
I do not believe government can solve every problem, but it does have an important role. As a child, I qualified for free and reduced-price lunches, and I am grateful that assistance was there. It was a hand up for our family. Eventually, my parents found jobs that allowed them to support us without that assistance.
We also need to understand the proper roles of different levels of government. In Wichita, the school district is separate from city government, while the county oversees services such as the health department and jail. Government works best when people understand what each institution is responsible for—and what it is not.
America’s experiment in self-government is still being lived out and improved upon. One of its successes is that an immigrant like me could realize her potential in a community that invested in her. We should not be ashamed to talk about the help we received along the way, whether it came from government assistance, scholarships, teachers, neighbors, churches or nonprofits.
That is what makes America strong. It is not government alone. It is communities helping people recognize opportunities, develop their talents and then give back to others.
I’ve asked several mayors about the problem of repeat offenders. When residents raise concerns about violent crime, they are not simply asking for improved statistics. They want to know whether the city is serious about protecting victims, restoring order and holding offenders accountable. How do you approach that responsibility as mayor?
Wu: Every year, Wichita conducts a community-wide survey, and crime consistently ranks as residents’ highest priority.
Public safety begins with the immediate response. When someone calls 911, an officer needs to arrive, victims need support and offenders need to move through the justice system. Accountability matters.
But reducing crime also requires a strong community. When people feel connected to their neighbors and understand that their choices affect others, they are more likely to take responsibility for their actions. Mentors, after-school programs and connections to opportunity can help prevent crime before police intervention becomes necessary.
Government works best when people understand what each institution is responsible for—and what it is not.
Police officers are essential to enforcing the law, but they cannot reduce crime alone. The community must work alongside them.
When I visit schools, I remind young people that they make choices every day, particularly about their attitude and effort. They also help write their own story. I ask them: “Am I a victim of my circumstances, or can I become the victor in my own story?”
Public safety is a shared responsibility. Government must enforce the law and hold offenders accountable, while the broader community helps create the relationships and opportunities that can keep people from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.
You’ve referenced that a city is not held together by government alone. How strong is civil society in Wichita, and what roles do families, churches, nonprofits, schools, local businesses and neighborhood leaders play in making the city work?
Wu: Here in Wichita, I see community strength beginning at the individual level. People need to feel a sense of ownership over their lives and understand that their choices have consequences, both positive and negative. They are also part of a neighborhood, and their actions affect the people around them.
Beyond the neighborhood is a broader network of families, churches and nonprofits that supports individuals and communities. Then comes local government, followed by state and federal government. It is important for people to understand that responsibility begins with the individual and extends outward through the community.
I am grateful that Wichita is a community rooted in family and faith. I believe there are more than 500 faith organizations within the city limits. They remind people that, while personal responsibility matters, none of us can do everything alone. Raising children especially requires a village. My parents could not have done it by themselves.
I am grateful for the neighbors who watched out for my brother and me as we walked to school. A neighbor invited us to church after we moved into our first home. Those relationships are still alive in Wichita.
The fabric of a strong community depends on everyone having a role to play: individuals, families, neighbors, faith communities, nonprofits and government.
What does Wichita need to do to ensure that young people and middle-income families can build careers, raise children and see a long-term future in the city?
Wu: In recent months, Wichita has received recognition as an affordable city. It’s a place where people are choosing to live and where opportunities are available. But when people decide whether to stay in or move to a community, jobs are often the deciding factor.
I recently returned from the Farnborough International Airshow outside London. Wichita is known as the “Air Capital of the World,” with deep expertise in aerospace manufacturing, research and innovation. Those industries provide good jobs and remain central to our economic future.
We must continue strengthening our skilled manufacturing workforce and recognizing its importance not only to Wichita, but to the nation. Aerospace manufacturing and national defense are closely connected, and leaders such as Sen. Jerry Moran have been strong advocates for our aviation workforce.
At the same time, we need to complement that strength with other growing industries. Health care is another major economic driver in Wichita. We have seen significant investment downtown, including a new biomedical campus being developed through a partnership between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas.
Aviation, advanced manufacturing, health care and biomedical sciences offer opportunities for young people who want to build careers and remain in Wichita. Our responsibility is to connect people with those opportunities, make them more visible and continue affirming the value of skilled work in our community.
What do you love most about Wichita? And since I haven’t been there in a long time, what is something you think I would really enjoy?
Wu: From your time in Wichita, you probably remember one or two people. For me, what stands out most is always the people. I grew up here, so I know the community well. Kansans are warm, welcoming and hardworking. I love the people of Wichita, and I think they are what truly set the city apart.
Every community says that about its people, but Wichita is also remarkably diverse and global. I am Chinese, Guatemalan and American, and our city reflects that same kind of diversity in its food, culture, people and opportunities.
One thing I have especially enjoyed during the FIFA World Cup is seeing people come together. In Wichita, you have more time to do that because you are not constantly stuck in traffic. You can travel from the east side to the west side in about 20 minutes. Also, getting in and out of the airport is easy.
That gives people more freedom to decide how they spend their time, and much of that time is spent with family and friends. My parents still live in Wichita, and the strength of this community is one reason they have chosen to stay. It is also why I began my career here and why I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the city today.
What habits does Wichita need to preserve if it wants to remain not only successful, but also self-governing and united?
Wu: Wichitans are uniquely themselves. We are individualistic but also deeply community-minded. Kansans have a strong work ethic, along with a kindness and friendliness that are important parts of our character. Those are qualities we need to preserve.
At the same time, Wichita must continue to value innovation. Pizza Hut was founded here, and major employers such as Boeing continue to invest in our community. Boeing recently announced plans to invest more than $1 billion in local infrastructure over the next three years.
There are tremendous opportunities here, and I hope more people will come visit us. Wichita may surprise you. I expect to see you back here because this is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.
