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The Rise and Fall of Josh Binda: How racy photos thwarted councilman's burgeoning political career

Josh Binda was elected to the council in 2022 at the age of 21, making him one of the youngest elected officials in the country

LYNNWOOD, WASHINGTON: A 23-year-old Washington state councilman is facing a recall after being accused of using racy photos to promote speaking engagements and using campaign funds for luxury personal items. Lynnwood City councilman Josh Binda could forfeit his position after being charged with four counts of misbehavior, one of which is lying to the council.

Binda was elected to the Council in 2022 at the age of 21, making him one of the youngest elected officials in the country at the time and the youngest African American in Washington State history. Binda, a Black Lives Matter activist and progressive who defeated a seasoned politician to gain the seat is also a renowned public and motivational speaker who has spoken to students at elementary, middle schools, high schools, and colleges to inspire the next generation of leaders. Additionally, he was selected as one of the 425 Business magazines' 30 Under 30 list of the young, talented professionals of 2022.

'Disgraceful and unacceptable'

However, Binda’s career suffered a major rocky patch in April when he drew flak for posting a shirtless picture of himself while announcing that he is starting a public speaking business. 'To all the students I've inspired, talked to [sic], helped, coached, or impacted this 'Love Conquers All' tattoo is dedicated to you,' Binda wrote in the caption on April 19. However, the inclusion of a politician's racy photo infuriated several parents, who labeled it "disgraceful and unacceptable," according to KIRO 7. In addition to the lewd photos, Binda is accused of squandering campaign cash for personal use. As per a 2022 Lynnwood Times article, he recorded nearly $5,000 for expenses such as rent, concert tickets, airfare, haircuts, and a $1,500 Versace item.

In December 2022, it came to light that Binda used a city building to make a promotional video for his tour, through which he earned more than $14,000. While filming, he even gave his city ID to his cameraman so they could enter and exit the building unaccompanied. Another allegation against Binda is that he used the city's email system to send and receive emails for his personal business. The Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled that the 'charges of misfeasance, malfeasance and violation of his Oath of Office satisfied for a recall petition.'

'I am not the only one that runs my account'

In a statement regarding the recall effort, the grassroots campaign against Binda praised the judge's decision to proceed with the lawsuit. 'The Committee to Recall Joshua Binda is pleased that the Snohomish County Superior Court determined that the charges our committee filed with the Snohomish County Auditor's Office satisfied the criteria for the recall petition and found the ballot synopsis filed by the Snohomish County Prosecutor's Office was adequate,’ the statement read. The organization declared its dedication to pressing for the elected official's recall. 'We are moving full steam ahead and are ready to gather petition signatures. We are fully confident that we will surpass the amound of signatures required to place the recall vote on the ballot,' the group said.

Binda spent $4,848.19 on expenses throughout the year, including rent, towing costs, concert tickets, jewelry, computers, flights, food, dental work, and office furnishings. One haircut that was charged by Binda cost a reported $163 alone. Another separate expense of $1,563.58 was paid to Versace for unknown items. The Times reported that an extra $4,952.12 was included under "Expenses of $50 or less." At the time, Binda claimed that all of the costs were campaign-related, although local media never received any supporting documentation for this assertion. 'I am not the only one that runs my account, so I would have to ask my campaign manager and would have to talk with him about all of my expenses,' Binda said, according to Daily Mail.

‘Young black voices are being targeted’

Additionally, Binda claimed that fellow council members had 'bullied' and 'intimidated' him into staying home from business trips. The councilman states that he was instructed to get legal counsel on the rules for authorized travel to the National League of Cities meeting. According to reports, council members typically have a budget of $2,600 for city-related travel and expenses. He was reimbursed from this fund, the Times reported. The National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) of Snohomish County called the movement against Binda 'racist.' 'Given the current climate in the Country, we are deeply concerned that young black voices are being targeted and suppressed,' NAACP President Janice R. Greene said. The Recall Binda movement requires at least 2,416 signatures to cause a recall vote for the City Council member embroiled in ethics issues. The petition's current status is presently unclear.