Fluoride measure shot down by Wichita voters
With 59 percent of the vote, Wichitans struck down a measure to add fluoride to the city's water.
The measure was put on the ballot earlier this year by a coalition of dentists and health professionals called Wichitans for Healthy Teeth. As the election results started coming in, it became clear the measure would not pass.
"To the people of Wichita, I'm sorry," said Dr. Lucynda Raben with Wichitans for Healthy Teeth to our news partners at KWCH 12. "We, I didn't work hard enough to get this initiative passed for you."
Don Landis, with Wichitans Opposed to Fluoridation, was pleased with the results Tuesday. He told KFDI News that his organization had been working since May both separately and with other groups to stop the measure from being passed in Wichita.
Landis said for some people, voting no was about the right to choose, while others were still unsure about the health benefits of fluoride. Others, he said, were concerned about the cost to the city.
The final results of the vote did not come in until early this morning. Wichitans Opposed to Fluoridation will hold a 10 a.m. news conference to discuss the results.
Wichita is one of the largest cities in the nation not to fluoridate its water supply.
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