Josh Binda recall, Lynnwood, Washington (2023-2024)
| Josh Binda recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2024 Recalls in Washington Washington recall laws City council recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall City Councilmember Josh Binda did not go to a vote in Lynnwood, Washington, after recall organizers did not submit the required number of signatures by the deadline of January 10, 2024.[1][2]
Recall supporters
A press release from the Committee to Recall Joshua Binda regarding the recall petition appears below.[1]
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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.[3] |
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Recall opponents
In response to several comments from community members during the April 10, 2023 meeting of the Lynnwood City Council asking him to resign rather than face a recall, MyNorthwest reported that Binda said the following.[4]
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'I first want to start by addressing everyone’s comments here, but I just really want to break the cycle of hatred. I think we live in a really divisive world where people who differ, who have different perspectives, and who come from different parts of the world just find a way to attack each other,' Binda said. 'You guys are members of my community, and as much as we may disagree, I still represent you. I want to make sure that you know I will keep representing you the best I can. All that to say that I will not be resigning. I will stay right here and keep being unapologetically who I am, who God made me.'[3] |
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During a May 8, 2023, city council meeting, the Lynnwood City Council unanimously approved a settlement agreement for an ethics complaint that alleged Binda used city resources for personal business. The settlement agreement can be read here. Binda said, "I am in full agreement with this settlement, and I’d like to move forward as a council member and do great for the community."[5]
Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Washington
Washington requires a court to rule that specific grounds have been met in order for a recall to move forward. Those grounds are that the official has "committed some act or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance while in office, or who has violated his oath of office." On June 27, 2023, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled that the recall could proceed.[6][7]
To trigger a recall election, organizers would have needed to collect at least 2,416 signatures, which is equal to 35% of the number of votes cast for all candidates who ran for the position on the Lynnwood City Council held by Binda in the most recent election.[8][9]
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Recall campaigns in Washington
- Political recall efforts, 2023
- Political recall efforts, 2024
- City council recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lynnwood Times, "Committee to recall Lynnwood Councilman Joshua Binda filed with PDC," April 6, 2023
- ↑ Lynnwood Times, "Recall effort fails to get signatures, Binda full steam ahead," January 12, 2024
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ MyNorthwest, "Recall campaign: Lynnwood a ‘regional embarrassment’ due to shirtless councilmember," April 12, 2023
- ↑ MyNorthwest, "Lynnwood city councilmember settles ethics complaint," May 9, 2023
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "Constitution of the State of Washington," accessed May 6, 2023
- ↑ KIRO 7, "Recall effort against controversial Lynnwood councilmember approved by judge," June 27, 2023
- ↑ Washington State Legislature, "RCW 29A.56.180," April 6, 2023
- ↑ HeraldNet, "Effort to recall Lynnwood’s Binda moves forward with judge’s approval," June 28, 2023
