Emporia city commissioners regretfully accepted the resignation of Mayor Danny Giefer Wednesday morning.
Commissioners approved Giefer’s resignation during their regular action meeting. Giefer announced he was stepping down from the role, but maintaining his seat on the commission, following a cancer diagnosis five weeks ago.
Susan Brinkman has now moved into the role of mayor, a role she was preparing to take on a year from now. Brinkman says despite the sudden change, the goals of the commission remain the same.
Becky Smith was chosen to serve as vice-mayor Wednesday, marking the first time in Emporia’s history that women have held the roles of mayor and vice-mayor simultaneously. Smith says she is ready to assume the role and thanked Giefer for his time as Mayor and commended his passion for the city of Emporia.
In other business Wednesday, Commissioners approved an update to city code at the request of staff and members of the Human Relations Commission to hold that gender identity and sexual orientation are protected classes under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Prior to approving the item, City Manager Trey Cocking noted that state leaders were holding a hearing for the purpose of prohibiting such action by city municipalities.
Mayor Brinkman says approval of this item sends an important message.
The city of Emporia’s action Wednesday reflects a 2020 decision by the US Supreme Court.
