LYNNWOOD—Lynnwood Council Vice President Joshua Binda under investigation by the Washington Disclosure Commision (PDC) for alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.235 and RCW 42.17A.240 for failure to timely and accurately report campaign contributions and campaign expenditures, and WAC 390-16-043 for failing to timely provide inspection of his campaign books in the 2025 Primary Election.
According to PDC records obtained by the Lynnwood Times, a series of campaign violations dating from July 11, 2025, through August 6, 2025, have been filed against Lynnwood City Councilman Josh Binda, who is also listed as the Treasurer of his “Josh Binda For All” re-election campaign. The complaint was filed by Washington resident and attorney Conner Edwards.
Below is a partial list of the currently (2025) alleged Public Disclosure Commission violations (Case #175907) against Lynnwood Council Vice President Josh Binda:
- Failure to timely respond to a request to inspect the campaign’s books of account during the 10-day window prior to the 2025 August primary election.
- Missing or unreported $2,574.69 in 2021 campaign funds. Binda’s last C4 Report for 2021, indicated a closing cash on hand balance of $2,574.69, yet, on his opening C4 Report for 2025, he indicated a $0 opening cash on hand balance. What happened to the money?
- On June 28, 2025, Joshua Binda hosted a campaign kick-off (Binda’s Ball). There were a number of amenities at this kick-off including food, drinks, a DJ, video games, etc. There is no in-kind contribution/debt/expenditure has been reported for these items.
- There is no expenditure or in-kind contribution listed for his PO Box which is his campaign’s address. No expenditure or in-kind is listed for his campaign website.
- Binda failed to include the sub vendor information and quantity of door cards printed for the $1200 expense paid to Vote Forward.
- C4 Expenditure Report for May 2025 was filed July 7, 2025, approximately 1 month after the reporting deadline.
Lynnwood Council Vice President Binda is no stranger to the PDC. He has faced multiple violations with Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) related to campaign finance reporting, personal use of funds, and financial disclosures for which, under oath, testified that he couldn’t pay the $1,500 in fines because he didn’t know how to write a check. In May 2025, just before filing for his 2025 re-election run, Binda settled his former debts with the PDC.
Below is a summary of Council Vice President Binda history of campaign finance violations dating from 2021 through 2023:
- Found in violation of misusing approximately $2,742 in campaign funds for personal expenses (e.g., Versace clothing, dental work, haircuts, airfare, and event tickets) around October-November 2021, violating RCW 42.17A.445.
- Found in violation to timely file a post-election C-4 report (due December 10, 2021; filed 280 days late on September 16, 2022).
- Found in violation to timely file his annual Personal Financial Affairs Statement (F-1 report) for calendar year 2021, due April 15, 2022, violating RCW 42.17A.700.
- As a repeat offender, Binda again was found in violation to timely file his F-1 report for calendar year 2022, due April 17, 2023, violating RCW 42.17A.700.
- Binda failed to accurately report debts of $2,400 or more on his F-1 reports for calendar years 2022 and 2023, violating RCW 42.17A.710. This was resolved via a Statement of Understanding (no fine imposed); case dismissed January 25, 2025.
Beside the current PDC investigation, Lynnwood Council Vice President Binda has been involved in city ethics complaints and Lynnwood residency issues.
With 33.3% of the vote in the 2025 Primary Election, Binda did qualify to advance to the General Election on November 4. He will face Bryce Owings who won the Primary Election with 34.83% of the vote.
PDC records show that Bryce is leading Binda in campaign contributions with $3,994.12 to his $2,123.
Author: Mario Lotmore
