LYNNWOOD, Wash., December 14, 2021 – This week’s Lynnwood City Council Business Meeting began with the swearing-in of newly elected officials. Christine Frizzell was the first to be sworn in as Mayor of the City of Lynnwood. She was followed by Councilman Patrick Decker, who was re-elected for City Council Position 2, and Shirley Sutton and Joshua Binda for City Council Positions 1 and 3.
Christine Frizzell, who was elected to City Council Position 1 in 2017, invited County Councilwoman Stephanie Wright to read her oath of office.
“I, Christine, do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution and the laws of the United States, and the constitution and laws of the state of Washington,” Frizzell said, repeating after Councilwoman Wright.
After being sworn in, Mayor Frizzell said, “I look forward to serving the people of the City of Lynnwood now. I have for four years as a city council member and South County Fire Commissioner, and I’m looking forward to this new challenge and doing it for some of the best people I know that work for this city and really care about our City.”
“I, Shirley Sutton, do solemnly swear or affirm…”
Frizzell was followed by Shirley Sutton. Sutton and the rest of the City Officials who took their oaths on Monday were sworn in by Judge Jeffrey Goodwin.
“I’m really happy about what’s going on. We have a lot of energy in the community that we need to pay attention to, and it can only help us become more better of a city, and that’s what I’m looking forward to and pressing for,” said Sutton after swearing in. “I’m happy to be back!”
“I, Patrick Decker, do solemnly swear or affirm…”
“Thank you, as always, to the council,” Decker said after taking his oath. “I’m looking forward to partnering with the council, including our new council members, and to continue the progress we’ve made with the city so far. Thank you, everyone.”
“I, Joshua Binda, do solemnly swear or affirm…”
“Thank you so much, everybody,” Binda said. “I wanted to start by saying I’m very grateful and honored by the community of Lynnwood — all of you guys, in supporting me and having me be put in this position to represent you guys.”
“I’m very excited to step up as a leader for this community, on behalf of all of Lynnwood, and just be a leader that represents what you guys have in the values and what is meant to be accomplished here. “
“I’m also very excited to work with each and every one of the other city council members to make sure Lynnwood is growing and building into the city it’s supposed to be. I’m very blessed and honored by the former mayor here for being one of the believers in me to step up, and also just other people in the community that have also put that faith in me as well. And just in general, I am very excited about this position.”
“I think I want to do the best of my abilities to make sure Lynnwood is the diverse and open city to everybody and is representing everyone as best as possible. And I want to have fun while I do it, and so I’m ready. Let’s rock and roll! I’m ready to take on the city and have some fun. Let’s do this, and let’s make the city great. I’m ready to push it to that direction. And here we go. I’m excited. Let’s get started.”
“I Valerie Bouffiou do solemnly swear or affirm…”
The last official to be sworn in was Valerie Bouffiou, who is now the newest City Judge in Lynnwood. “Thank you so much, Judge Goodwin,” Bouffiou began. “It is a real honor to have you be the one who swears me in today because we have known each other for so long, and you have been able to watch the development of my public service career.”
“I want to express my sincerest gratitude to Mayor Smith, to the members of the city council. I also want to say thank you very much to our HR director, Evan Chinn, who’s just been a true pleasure to work with during this process, and I want to recognize exactly how lucky I am to have the support of our amazing court administrator, Paulette Revoir, and the exemplary staff at Lynnwood Municipal Court. Thank you so much to Judge Steven Moore. Steven Moore dedicated more than 21 years to building this court. And then finally, thank you to my family for their patience and their faith in me during this process.”
“Filmmaker Henry Hampton spoke about public service when he said that what drives people to public service is a sense of possibility. If you haven’t sensed that possibility, you don’t get started in the same way. You don’t feel you can have an impact. I’ve spent almost half my life in public service because of the possibilities. I’ve sensed those possibilities in Lynnwood, and I know that we can make a positive impact as we move into the future as a court, as a city, and as a community.”
To view Monday’s Business Meeting in full, click here.
Author: Bo John Brusco
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