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Derica Escamilla (Lynnwood City Council Position 1, Washington, candidate 2025)
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Derica Escamilla is running for election to the Lynnwood City Council Position 1 in Washington. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source] She was on the ballot in the primary on August 5, 2025.[source]
Escamilla completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
[1]Biography
Derica Escamilla provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on July 7, 2025:
- Birth place: Moses Lake, Washington
- High school: Pharr-San Juan-Alamo High School
- Bachelor's: Texas State University-San Marcos, 2004
- Gender: Female
- Religion: Christian
- Profession: Consulting
- Incumbent officeholder: Yes
- Campaign slogan: Love where you live, Lead with Safety, Compassion and Authenticity
- Campaign website
- Campaign endorsements
Elections
General election
General election for Lynnwood City Council Position 1
Dio Boucsieguez and Derica Escamilla are running in the general election for Lynnwood City Council Position 1 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Dio Boucsieguez (Nonpartisan)  | |
 | Derica Escamilla (Nonpartisan) | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Lynnwood City Council Position 1
Dio Boucsieguez, Derica Escamilla, and Brandon Kimmel ran in the primary for Lynnwood City Council Position 1 on August 5, 2025.
Candidate | ||
| Dio Boucsieguez (Nonpartisan) | |
| Derica Escamilla (Nonpartisan) | |
| Brandon Kimmel (Nonpartisan) | ||
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Election results
Endorsements
To view Escamilla's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Derica Escamilla completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Escamilla's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’m the granddaughter of migrant workers and the first in my family to graduate from both high school and college. I’m a proud mom of three, holding a degree in Resource and Environmental Studies and a certificate in Water Resource Management from Texas State University in San Marcos.
Appointed to Lynnwood City Council in 2024, I bring nearly two decades of lived experience—from coaching youth basketball for 12 years to serving on key city committees like the Economic Development Advisory Board, the South Lynnwood Neighborhood Co-Design Committee, and the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee. I’ve also served as Vice President of the Cedar Valley Community School PSO for four years and continue to be active through Natural Leaders, school volunteering, and fundraising events.
Professionally, I serve as the PNW Chapter Development Chair for the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) and contribute to the Networking and Professional Development committees for Women in Environment (WIE). Last year, I had the honor of co-chairing the Washington state conference for the Association for Learning Environments (A4LE), a K–12 design organization.- SAFETY “One goal, one city, safety at the heart.” Everyone deserves to feel safe—whether they’re walking to school, shopping for clothes, or heading home after work. Real safety doesn’t start with fear—it starts with smart investments in the basics that keep our neighborhoods strong.
It takes a lot of communication, understanding, and collaboration to address the issues that come with being at the end of the light rail line and having a large shopping district—on top of being a fast-growing city. By working together with our first responders, retail community, and transit partners, we can tackle these concerns and shape a city that leads with both safety and compassion.
Safety also means mobility. Whether you - AUTHENTICITY “Trust is earned, not given.”If we want people to trust government, we have to be real with them. For me, authenticity means showing up honestly, listening deeply, doing my research, asking the hard questions and leading with integrity. People deserve leaders who communicate clearly, own their decisions, and aren’t afraid to say, “Here’s what we’re doing—and here’s why.” That’s why I’m committed to transparency and co-governance. To me, authenticity means not making decisions behind closed doors. It means inviting community members into the process as I’ve done with the formation of the youth council taskgroup and many of my other decisions not as a checkbox, but as true partners and stakeholders. Transparency=Trust
- COMPASSION “A city that cares.” People don’t ask for much—they just want to be safe, seen, and supported. That’s what compassion looks like. It’s making sure every neighborhood has clean parks, everyone's treated fairly, every elder can get a ride to the doctor, and every kid has a warm meal and a warm classroom. Compassion is how we lead and carry ourselves, it's not just what we do, but how we do it, centered in empathy, equity, and respect. In a city as diverse and vibrant as Lynnwood, care and compassion means meeting people where they are—expanding transit, improving public health, and building systems that work for everyone. When we take care of each other we all do better.
What makes this office truly unique is its direct connection to the people of Lynnwood, a city that’s rapidly growing and becoming more diverse by the day. We sit at the intersection of opportunity and challenge—with development pressures, affordability issues, and infrastructure needs—but we also have the chance to lead with equity, community vision, and inclusiveness.
Lynnwood’s Council is where policies become personal. It’s where we can advance racial equity, push for more accessible housing, invest in local small businesses, and ensure every voice—from longtime residents to new neighbors—is heard.
This office isn’t about partisanship or politics-as-usual—it’s about listening deeply, acting responsibly, and building a future where Lynnwood works for everyone.
At its core, The Green Mile is a story about justice, compassion, and the deep, often uncomfortable truth that systems—whether it’s the legal system, government, or society—don’t always get it right. It’s about people in positions of power making choices, some compassionate and courageous, others cruel or indifferent. It shows how easy it is to dehumanize others when we’re too focused on rules or fear, instead of empathy and doing what’s right.
What sticks with me from that film is the message that we’re all responsible for each other, and that kindness and mercy can be radical acts, even within rigid systems. That resonates with my belief that politics isn’t just about policies or budgets—it’s about people. It’s about using your position to break cycles of harm, to stand up for those with no voice, and to never forget the weight of the choices you make on others’ lives. It’s a reminder to lead with heart, not ego.
Erin Brockovich is about a regular person—someone underestimated and overlooked—who refuses to accept that things “just have to be this way.” She’s scrappy, persistent, and driven by a fierce sense of justice, even when the system pushes back. She fights for people who don’t have power or influence, and she makes sure their stories are heard, no matter how inconvenient it is for those in charge.
Strong Sense of Fairness and Equity: I consistently focus on making government more just, accessible, and accountable, showing a real dedication to equity.
Authenticity and Honesty: I have a straightforward, transparent way of communicating that builds trust and shows I'm not about politics as usual.
Persistence and Grit: I'm ready to put in the hard work and stay engaged even when issues are complex or challenging.
Collaborative Spirit: I understand the importance of working across differences to find solutions that serve the whole community.
Second, there’s a duty to set sound policies that guide the city forward. This means shaping budgets, passing ordinances, and making decisions on land use, housing, infrastructure, public safety, and more—always weighing both the immediate impact and long-term outcomes.
Third, there’s oversight and fiscal responsibility. Councilmembers must be diligent in monitoring how taxpayer dollars are spent, holding city departments accountable, and ensuring resources are used effectively, equitably, and transparently.
Lastly, this position requires a commitment to collaboration and leadership—working not only with fellow councilmembers and city staff, but also with residents, nonprofits, businesses, and regional partners to address challenges and pursue opportunities that benefit the whole community.
I want my time in office to be marked by real progress on equity and inclusion, where we tackled tough issues like affordable housing, environmental justice, and economic fairness head-on, without hesitation.
More than anything, I want people to say that I led with integrity, transparency, and heart—that I showed up every day committed to lifting up voices often ignored and making government accessible and accountable and that I initiated and helped launch the first ever Lynnwood Youth COuncil.
One of the most overlooked responsibilities of the Lynnwood City Council is its authority over land use, zoning, and development decisions. Those choices directly shape what kind of housing is built, where businesses can open, how traffic flows, and even whether a neighborhood stays affordable or becomes out of reach. These decisions can either prevent displacement or speed it up.
Another little-known but powerful role is the city budget. Every dollar we allocate reflects our priorities—whether we’re funding community programs, safety initiatives, climate action, or infrastructure repairs. Councilmembers have the ability to push for more equitable investments in neighborhoods that have been historically underfunded.
Also, we help appoint key leadership positions—from advisory boards to committees—and those appointments have long-term impacts on how policies are shaped.
But also, no—because too much focus on “experience” can shut out regular people who should be in these roles. Lived experience, community involvement, and a strong sense of fairness can matter just as much, if not more, than political background. Sometimes fresh perspectives are exactly what a city needs
It also takes strong communication skills—to listen to people from all walks of life, explain complicated issues clearly, and help bridge differences.
Problem-solving and collaboration are key, too. You have to be able to find common ground, even when people don’t agree, and work toward solutions that actually serve the community.
And yes, a good grasp of budgeting, policy-making, and local government processes definitely helps—but those are skills you can learn if you’re willing to put in the work. What can’t be taught as easily is the heart behind it: the passion to fight for your neighbors and the persistence to stick with it.
What makes this office especially important is its power to decide on land use, zoning, and local development—which affects affordability, growth, and who gets to stay in this community. It also oversees the city budget—determining where resources go and which priorities get funded.
Unlike other levels of government, this office isn’t about distant policies—it’s about immediate, visible impact. From sidewalks to housing to public safety, the work done here directly affects every neighborhood.
Most importantly, this role gives Councilmembers the chance to shape Lynnwood’s future—to make sure growth happens in a way that’s fair, inclusive, and community-driven.
To me, transparency means more than just posting a spreadsheet online. It’s about clear communication, easy-to-understand information, and creating real opportunities for people to weigh in before decisions are finalized. That includes everything from city budgets to contracts and policies.
Accountability goes hand-in-hand with that. Leaders shouldn’t just make decisions behind closed doors—they should be ready to explain their choices, take responsibility for the outcomes, and be open to changing course if the community demands it.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Other survey responses
Ballotpedia identified the following surveys, interviews, and questionnaires Escamilla completed for other organizations. If you are aware of a link that should be added, email us.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
