Does Lynnwood City Council VP Josh Binda actually live in the city?
Feb 20, 2025, 5:02 AM
Joshua Binda (left) in a city council meeting responding to public comment (Photo from Lynnwood City Council meeting)
(Photo from Lynnwood City Council meeting)
There’s a dispute over whether or not Lynnwood City Council Vice President Josh Binda actually lives in the city.
His 2024 bid for U.S. House exposed discrepancies, with Binda listing an Everett apartment as his address on public documents. Binda insists that he is a Lynnwood resident, with some council members supporting him and others requesting proof, according to the Everett Herald.
Under state law, elected officials must live in their city for at least a year, and if they’re no longer registered voters, they can lose their seat.
Council Member Patrick Decker proposed an amendment requiring council members to provide proof of residency every three months. The City Council cannot remove Binda from office directly; only a court can rule on his residency.
“His FEC [Federal Election Filing] filing, which he signed and swore was true and correct, under penalty of perjury, he wrote down his address being in Everett,” said City Council member Patrick Decker on Monday. “I don’t know how you get clearer.”
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Lynnwood City Council Vice President challenged on residency
Binda was evicted from a Lynnwood apartment in 2023 and listed his father’s Everett apartment as his address in his FEC filing. He explained his choice of the Everett address due to family safety concerns and admitted to temporarily staying with family in both cities.
Binda, previously fined for ethics and campaign finance violations, is still a registered voter in Lynnwood, though his status was marked inactive in 2025. Voter registration data is checked during filing, but it’s up to local officials to verify residency. Decker’s proposal aims to clarify residency rules and rebuild public trust, though some council members, like Derica Escamilla, feel it may be redundant.
The matter could end up in court, though legal action would be costly and uncertain. The issue remains unresolved, continuing to spark debate in the Lynnwood community.
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