LYNNWOOD, Wash., April 6, 2023—Residents disappointed with Lynnwood Councilman Joshua Binda in his illegal campaign activities, pending ethics investigations, and most recently posting sexually suggestive pictures to minors, have officially filed with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission to recall the council member.
🚨#breakingnews: @Lynnwood Council unanimously approves official Ethics Investigation into Councilman @joshBinda for alleged uses of public facilities for personal gain/profit. Binda abstained from the vote. @SnoCoScannerRep @snocounty @jasonrantz @KVIJohnCarlson @thehoffather pic.twitter.com/hf8M227BfP
— Lynnwood Times (@LynnwoodTimes) January 24, 2023
In an email received the evening of Thursday, April 6, from The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda, it says the 23-year-old councilman “neither represent the best of any city council nor of the City of Lynnwood” and that Councilman Binda has been malfeasant in his duties.
“It is evident that this and other documented behavior by this councilmember neither represent the best of any city council nor of the City of Lynnwood,” says Diodato Boucsieguez, chair of The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda. “This committee strongly believes that Councilmember Joshua Binda has met the conditions of malfeasance as outlined in the Revised Code of Washington to be recalled. It is the duty of Lynnwood residents to recall City Council member Joshua Binda from the Lynnwood City Council and restore integrity to our city.”
According to Article 1, Section 32, of the Washington State Constitution, a recall can occur if the elected official, this case Councilman Binda, “has committed some act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office, or who has violated his oath of office.”
Because Lynnwood has a population of just over 40,000 residents, a petition for recall must be signed, with valid signatures, by at least 35% of the total votes cast for all candidates who ran for the office in the most recent election. According to the Snohomish County Auditor’s website, the most recent Lynnwood City Council election was on November 2, 2021 with a total of 7,405 votes. Therefore, The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda, would need to collect at least 2.592 valid signatures on signed petition pages no later than August to meet the November ballot deadline. The City of Lynnwood incorporated as a third-class city on April 23, 1959.
The recall ballot synopsis is prepared and transmitted to Superior Court to determine sufficiency. Upon approval of the ballot synopsis and charges, signatures can begin to be collected. The signed petition pages are filed with the Snohomish County Auditor for voter and signature verification. If the recall signatures are sufficient, the Snohomish County Auditor sets an election date.
If the recall to oust Councilman Binda passes, he is immediately discharged from office and the Lynnwood City Council then appoints someone to fill the vacated position. If the recall fails, Councilman Binda officially stays in the office to complete the rest of his term which ends December 31, 2025.
Councilman Joshua Binda won against veteran politician and former councilwoman Lisa Utter by only 512 votes. According to the 2021 General Election voters pamphlet, Utter received the sole endorsement by the 32nd District Democrats, the National Organization for Women, Federation of Democratic Women, and the 21st District Democrats.
The backlash against councilman Binda for posing shirtless to market his Love Conquers All Tour to minors has reach both national—New York Post—and international audiences. The UK news outlet, Daily Mail, referred to Councilman Binda of having a “Meghan and Harry-sized ego” who used a “sultry SHIRTLESS photo of himself” to promote his speaking tour to minors.
Other news outlets and journalist including MyNorthwest, KIRO7, Lynnwood Today, and Brandi Kruse also reported on the councilman’s latest decision to market himself to minors for his speaking tour.
Below is the press release by The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda in its entirety:
The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda has officially been filed with the Washington Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) to recall Lynnwood City Council member Joshua Binda.
Council member Binda has been found guilty of multiple PDC violations, including using over $2,700 of campaign funds for personal use. Additionally, he is under investigation by the City of Lynnwood Board of Ethics for using Lynnwood City Hall to make a promotional video for his lucrative “Love Conquers All Tour.” His sexual marketing in the promotion of his “Love Conquers All” tour, which is marketed to minors, is highly inappropriate.
“It is evident that this and other documented behavior by this councilmember neither represent the best of any city council nor of the City of Lynnwood,” says committee chair Diodato Boucsieguez. “This committee strongly believes that Councilmember Joshua Binda has met the conditions of malfeasance as outlined in the Revised Code of Washington to be recalled. It is the duty of Lynnwood residents to recall City Council member Joshua Binda from the Lynnwood City Council and restore integrity to our city.”
The committee is encouraging Lynnwood residents to voice their disapproval with Council member Binda at upcoming Lynnwood City Council business meetings—which are every second and fourth Monday of the month—to urge the Council to take immediate action.
A dedicated website and petitions are being developed.
We appreciate the overwhelming support we are receiving in protecting the integrity of our democracy.
Editor’s Note: Correction to the number of valid signatures for recall changed from 25% and 1,852 to 35% and 2,592 [3:18 p.m., April 7, 2023]
