WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – The email that prompted the firing of an attorney for a Kansas agency that represents residential and small-business utility customers urged board members to allow her to continue talking to lawmakers and reporters.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board released the email Friday after an open records request was filed. Board members cited the email in Monday’s decision to fire Niki Christopher, CURB’s interim consumer counselor.

In the email, she bluntly advised the board to reverse a December decision to strip her office of authority over cases and prohibit her from talking with lawmakers and reporters about utility issues.

CURB board chairwoman Ellen Janoski said she thought the email made unsolicited demands and was “very disrespectful” to the board.