Controversial Lynnwood councilmember asks city to pay for unsanctioned trip

LYNNWOOD, Wash. — There is a new development in the ongoing saga involving a controversial Lynnwood City Councilmember.

Josh Binda is already the subject of an ethics investigation, he’s been fined for misusing campaign funds, and now he wants to be reimbursed for a recent trip to a conference in Washington, D.C.

The accusation of frivolous spending is adding fuel to the fire of a growing recall campaign.

Dio Boucsieguez is the man leading the charge to recall Binda.

“It’s like a snowball. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger with every allegation,” said Boucsieguez.

One of the allegations stems from a shirtless photo Binda posted on Instagram to promote a speaking tour in schools.

“It’s obviously sexually suggestive,” said Boucsieguez. And then his campaign expenditures for his own personal use. So a trip to Mexico, towing, dental work.”

Now, Lynnwood City Council President Shannon Sessions claims Binda made a last-minute request to attend a leadership conference in Washington, D.C.

She said she told him he couldn’t go to the conference using taxpayers’ dollars, but he went anyway and is now pushing for taxpayers to foot the bill.

“As usual, Councilmember Binda did what he wanted to do anyway,” said Sessions.

“He goes to this conference without council approval and then when he comes back he requests reimbursement from the city, from Lynnwood residents such as myself, to pay for his event,” said Boucsieguez.

Session claims there’s little evidence of Binda attending official events while at the conference and he has not produced the required receipts.

Councilmember Patrick Decker said he’s neutral concerning Binda’s proposed recall.

“I think we can find a way to resolve it with Councilmember Binda. Let’s see the documentation. Let’s see what you accomplished so that we can tell the taxpayers this was a good use of funds,” said Decker. “I do think that the recall will give some impetus to get Josh Binda to actually be responsible as a councilmember and to restore the dignity and decorum that applies to this office that’s so important to have the public’s trust.”

At the next city council meeting Monday, the group behind the recall effort plans to ask Binda to resign.

If he refuses, they’ll start gathering signatures to get that recall on the ballot.

KIRO 7 reached out to Binda for comment but has not heard back.

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