KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City's mayor is sharing his side of the story about his battle with City Hall with a national audience.

Mayor Mark Funkhouser and his wife, Gloria Squitiro, are appearing on national morning news shows to explain why they've sued Kansas City and to talk about love in the workplace.

Court documents were released explaining the suit, including 214 pages of Funkhouser's deposition. The depositions released Monday are part of ongoing proceedings related to a lawsuit file in June by Ruth Bates, a former city employee. Bates, who is black, alleges that Squitiro called her "Mammy."

The couple, in separate depositions, deny allegations that they subjected Bates to discrimination, harassment and retaliation during the 10 months she worked in the mayor's office.

Funkhouser said he feels like his name has been "drug through the mud over something that did not occur."

Both Funkhouser and Squitiro were accused in the discrimination lawsuit, but Squitiro was removed from the lawsuit following a settlement.

The mayor's quest to keep his wife volunteering in his office has also been a part of the legal battle. Funkhouser has been holding many meetings and handling city business from home in protest of the ordinance that bans his wife from volunteering for him.

Funkhouser has filed a lawsuit against the city to get rid of the volunteer ordinance.

While the two lawsuits continue in court, the mayor and his wife say are hoping that telling their story will allow them to continue to work together at City Hall.