Last month, The Wichita Beacon surveyed our readers to find out what they most want to know about candidates running for local office. 

Questions for the 2023 mayoral candidates centered on four themes: leadership style, commitment to transparency in government, relationships with developers, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

We asked the nine mayoral candidates competing in the Aug. 1 primary to answer these questions. All but two responded — Jared Cerullo, Bryan Frye, Anthony Gallardo, Celeste Racette, Julie Rose Stroud, Brandon Whipple and Lily Wu.

What follows are their responses, edited for length and clarity. We have also included links to each candidate’s campaign page and Ballotpedia entry, which provides basic bio information on each candidate and details about the race. 

The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary will advance to the Nov. 7 general election. 

2023 Wichita Mayoral Candidate Forum
The Wichita Beacon is partnering with The Wichita Independent Neighborhood Association Inc. to present a mayoral candidate forum.
When: Monday, July 17, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Woodland United Methodist Church
1100 W. 15th St. North, between North Payne and Salina Streets
More information is available here.

Jared Cerullo
Ballotpedia
Cerullo’s campaign Facebook 

Shelia Davis 
Ballotpedia 
Davis does not have a campaign website

Bryan Frye
Ballotpedia
Frye’s campaign website

Anthony Gallardo
Ballotpedia
Gallardo does not have a campaign website. 

Tom Kane
Ballotpedia 
Kane’s campaign website

Celeste Racette
Ballotpedia
Racette’s campaign website

Julie Rose Stroud
Ballotpedia
Stroud’s campaign website

Brandon Whipple
Ballotpedia
Whipple’s campaign website

Lily Wu
Ballotpedia
Wu’s campaign website 

How would your leadership style differ from the previous mayors?

Jared Cerullo
I will lead by example.  Through my civic engagement over the last 10 years, I have diversified the advisory groups for District 3 and was also able to get two major projects passed during my 10 months on the council:  the Clapp Park Master Plan and the Patrol East Wichita Police Substation.

Bryan Frye
Our success can and will be defined by civility, transparency and collaboration. We will be vision-driven, action-oriented as a forward leading city where everyone is invited to engage, participate and contribute.Throughout my business, public service and council career, I’ve always valued collaboration and teamwork. Solving problems and working through issues is accomplished by bringing partners to the table whether it be fellow council members, other electeds at the county, state or federal level and community leaders. I have a track record of working with schools, neighborhoods, nonprofits and organized groups. We would strengthen and balance public safety with compassion, protect taxpayer dollars and move Wichita forward using my experience, know-how and vision. 

Anthony Gallardo
I’d promote policies that address income inequality, affordable housing and access to quality health care and education. I’d actively seek input from a diverse range of community members to ensure policies meet the needs of all constituents.

Celeste Racette
My executive background as a chief internal auditor, manager and FDIC bank examiner give me financial skills, contract negotiations and team leadership expertise that is sorely needed in today’s economic and polarized environment. I will bring ethics and integrity back into the position and ensure accountability for city staff. My management style will differ from the current mayor in that I will encourage discussion with other council members to achieve collaborative goals. I will be open to the public’s voice and give them a vote on major development.

Julie Rose Stroud
I’ve been a janitor and a manager and many things in between. I understand the challenges various people face and I’m willing to help in any way I can. I believe people want to do the right things, they just need to know how and have the resources to do them. I am my most successful when I am helping other people. I listen to understand and empathize with individuals to help them solve problems and accomplish their goals. I’m tenacious and determined and there is nothing that is too difficult or lengthy to take on. I am the voice that encourages everyone to keep going and to not give up. I know what it’s like to have nothing and to truly make something for myself.  I stand as a role model that it doesn’t matter what cards you were dealt. If you want something for yourself, go after it.

Brandon Whipple
When I became mayor, City Hall was on autopilot. Previous mayors seemed adverse to gathering genuine feedback from the community and many people felt left out of major decisions being made about their city. My leadership style as mayor is to put myself in spaces where people feel comfortable talking about their experiences and use that dialogue to identify problems because that is the first step to finding meaningful solutions. I value public feedback because the best solutions come from listening to the real experience of Wichitans, even if such feedback may be critical of city services. My job as mayor is to ensure city services work well for everyone, no matter who you are or what ZIP code you call home.

Lily Wu
My leadership philosophy is rooted in civility, respect, honesty and integrity. Most importantly, I will lead by first listening. As a local reporter the past 12 years, my job was to listen to people all over Wichita. As mayor, I will lean in on that communication experience of seeking truth, sharing facts and remaining transparent. I pride myself on being a bridge-builder, a consensus-builder and someone who will put results over politics to get Wichita moving forward. I will also rely on my diverse experiences of being born in Guatemala, immigrating to the United States as an 8-year-old who only spoke Spanish and Chinese, graduating from Wichita Public Schools and Wichita State University, and serving as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Hong Kong while pursuing a master’s in journalism. I’m a big believer in Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self.”

What would you do to increase transparency in government?

Jared Cerullo
My entire career in journalism has been based on transparency, especially in local government. I will take steps to open the city’s checkbook and have it available on the city’s website.  This is something that no previous mayor has worked to accomplish. Sedgwick County began doing this a few years ago and Wichita should follow suit.

Bryan Frye
Prioritizing open lines of communication is the first step to improving confidence between City Hall and the citizens of Wichita. We start with redesigning the city website for easier navigation, improving the search engine and adding publication of all legal notices.  We focus on improving our communications outflow with more timely flow of agendas, proposals and updates to social media and the press. Create more opportunities for civic engagement which encourages participation and leads to community improvement, employee retention and civic pride. A dedication to get more voices at the table on issues district and citywide to ensure equal representation opportunity.

Anthony Gallardo
I would aim to lead with transparency and encourage an open dialogue with the public about city affairs. My goal would be to engage as many citizens as possible in the decision-making process to make our city a place that truly reflects the desires and needs of its residents. I’d bring more awareness and accessibility to City Council meetings by making the YouTube livestream of City Council meetings more apparent and allow for public comment on that platform. I’d also encourage and promote advisory boards that residents can participate in.

Celeste Racette
First, financial statements need to be understandable to the general public. The public should be able to see who benefits and who pays. That stands in stark contrast to the current practice of misleading and inaccurate information. Second, economic development financial results should be posted on the city’s website. Third, open up meetings to the public. For example, the water plant steering committee meetings should not have been conducted in secret. Require staff fully comply with the Kansas Open Records Act and not mislead the public with irrelevant and inaccurate responses to public record requests.

Julie Rose Stroud
Continue the use of social media and increase the prevalence of said usage. Incorporate voices from more people of the city. I would get involved heavily with all aspects of our city and form partnerships with everyone with a business or a purpose. Together we will make Wichita a better place.

Brandon Whipple
During my time as mayor, I hosted more town hall meetings, in-person public engagement sessions and opportunities for dialog online than my predecessors. I work to make communication from City Hall more transparent and less strategic. For too long, leaders avoided sharing the truth because it made them look bad. However, when you are dishonest or withhold information from the public, you lose trust. I work each day to build trust back in the city government by pushing for increased disclosures to the public about spending and taking people’s concerns seriously. We’ve utilized our internal auditor at the city to analyze various programs and departments to provide us with detailed reports and policy suggestions to improve services and operations. Building back trust takes consistent effort and a willingness to be honest with the public at all times, which is something I strive to do each day as your mayor.

Lily Wu
As the political outsider, who is not beholden to insiders, I will work for all Wichitans to ensure local government processes are fair, transparent and well communicated.The skills I gained as a journalist of researching facts, revealing truth and holding public officials accountable will transfer to the mayor’s office. I want to engage more citizens and will increase the communication between the mayor’s office and our community. As a servant leader, my decision making will be guided by the principles of Rotary’s Four-Way Test: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4) Is it beneficial to all concerned?

As a 2023 candidate for Wichita mayor, what is your relationship with real estate developers? What should a mayor’s relationship be?

Jared Cerullo
I do not have any personal connections with any of the large real estate developers who often attempt to get subsidies from city government.  I do believe it is extremely important for the mayor and council members to work closely with business leaders of all different types in order to make advances in economic development.  However, I have accepted no campaign donations from any real estate developers in order to remain completely impartial.

Bryan Frye
No hidden agendas. Open and accountable at every turn. All efforts must protect taxpayer pocketbooks and create a positive return on investment (ROI). I’m the only candidate with leadership skills in business, nonprofit, government and entrepreneurism to move Wichita forward.  My proven track record of a 30+ year business career, eight years City Council, eight years park board, dozens of volunteer roles and being a small-business owner/operator has prepared me to represent Wichita interests with hard work, accountability and understanding. Private industry is the engine of economic growth and jobs. The mayor and council work to create an environment where investors see Wichita as an inviting city that gives them an opportunity to thrive. That comes from listening to their concerns and providing an even playing field for everyone. Every deal must include clawbacks and minimum ROIs to protect taxpayer dollars.

Anthony Gallardo
As a mayoral candidate, my relationship with real estate developers would be professional and respectful. Developers play a key role in shaping our city’s growth, but it’s important to strike a balance between their interests and those of the community. A mayor’s relationship with real estate developers should be one of constructive dialogue and negotiation. It’s important to ensure that development projects meet the city’s strategic planning goals and provide benefits to the community, such as affordable housing and job opportunities. At the same time, it’s crucial to listen to developers’ perspectives and understand their needs, because successful, sustainable development often requires a collaborative approach. The goal should always be to reach decisions that are in the best interest of the city and its residents.

Celeste Racette
I have a positive relationship with real estate developers who make a good faith effort to create economic development without the necessity of tax subsidies. A mayor should put the public over special interests.

Julie Rose Stroud
To effectively communicate the goals for the city of Wichita and formulate strong partnerships for the greater good of our community.

Brandon Whipple
My relationship with real estate developers is the same as my relationship with anyone in the city of Wichita. If you would like to invest in Wichita or have an idea to improve our city, I will work to get you connected to the proper people at City Hall or in our community to make that idea a reality. Unlike previous mayors, no one has to take me out to lunch or golfing to get a fair shake. However, I also don’t make special deals for anyone. In order to earn my vote for any deal, that deal needs to be a win for the people of Wichita and have the data to back it up.

Lily Wu
Real estate development is necessary for growth. It brings affordable housing, retail, restaurants, hotels and other amenities that help increase our quality of life. That said, our city doesn’t have a good track record with public-private partnerships, which have often meant sweetheart, insider deals, wasting taxpayer dollars for the benefit of few at the expense of many. If incentives are absolutely necessary, they must be transparent, fiscally responsible and hold the developers accountable. Taxpayers shouldn’t be left in the dark, or foot the bill for anything that doesn’t show an exceptional long-term return for our city. My boyfriend is a real estate developer. He comes from a respected, philanthropic family that supports many local organizations. His main investment locally is the Waterfront in east Wichita, which was developed without incentives or taxpayer dollars, but almost all of his business interests are outside Kansas. 

What steps will you take to ensure that all citizens (regardless of race, immigration status or sexual orientation/gender identity) are safe and have full access to city facilities and services?

Jared Cerullo
We must restore and repair the relationship between the mayor’s office and the Wichita Police Department. The #1 issue that people bring up when asked about city issues is public safety. I will be a strong supporter of public safety. I will also make sure the city is enforcing the nondiscrimination ordinance that was passed in 2021 and I am extremely happy to know that there have been very few complaints filed in the two years since the NDO has been in effect.

Bryan Frye
Crime is the number one issue in Wichita. Everyone should expect a right to privacy and safety throughout Wichita. We must retain and hire enough police officers to enforce the laws and give all citizens protection and safety.

Anthony Gallardo
Ultimately, my goal would be to create a city where all residents feel safe, included and able to fully participate in community life. Ensuring safety is a priority. Here are the steps I would take:

• Review and update existing city policies to ensure they explicitly prohibit discrimination based on the mentioned identities. 
• Work closely with law enforcement to adopt community policing strategies that build trust between officers and the communities they serve and mandated sensitivity and bias training. 
• Ensure services and information are available in all languages spoken in our community and accessible for people with disabilities.
• Partner with local community organizations that serve marginalized groups to better understand their needs and how the city can meet them.
• Hold regular town hall meetings and outreach to all citizens to voice their concerns.
• Establish and maintain safe, welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants and racial minorities. 

Celeste Racette
My priority is to ensure core services for all citizens, including public safety, transportation and quality of life. I support the recently passed NDO (nondiscrimination ordinance) and will protect the rights of all citizens regardless of race, immigration status or sexual orientation/gender identity.

Julie Rose Stroud
Communication utilizing active listening to understand and voice the concerns and questions or recommendations from everyone I come in contact with throughout the city. 

Brandon Whipple
When I campaigned for mayor in 2019, I promised to pass the strongest nondiscrimination ordinance in Kansas, and in 2021, I kept that promise. Our nondiscrimination ordinance protects against discrimination on the basis of race, immigration status, veteran status, sexual orientation and gender identity. Now Wichitans have a pathway to find relief when they face discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. We’ve also improved internal policies at City Hall, and in 2022, for the first time in Wichita’s history, we earned a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign. As your mayor, I am committed to protecting the rights of Wichitans to be who they are and love who they choose without interference from the government. Every person in Wichita deserves to feel safe and welcome. I will stand up to hatred and bigotry for the people of Wichita, even when it comes from Topeka.

Lily Wu
As an Asian American, immigrant woman, I’ve seen firsthand the love and compassion within our community. To strengthen and grow our economy, Wichita must remain a welcoming place. Our city should also be safe and accessible to all, including those protected by federal and local laws. City buildings are now built with greater consideration for accessibility, including family restrooms and wheelchair access. As mayor, I will remain focused on ensuring public safety, strengthening our economy, restoring trust in City Hall and building a united community. I’ll work with anyone who wants to improve our city, bring our community together, find common ground and make Wichita proud.