Lynnwood publisher files new campaign finance complaint against Binda

Mario Lotmore of the Lynnwood Times says the city council winner wasn’t transparent enough.

Mario Lotmore

Mario Lotmore

LYNNWOOD — A third campaign finance complaint has been filed against a 21-year-old candidate who won a seat on the Lynnwood City Council this month.

The new case against Joshua Binda comes from Lynnwood Times publisher and owner Mario Lotmore, who ran as a Republican for state Senate in 2018. Lotmore wrote an article published Nov. 1, raising questions about whether Binda violated campaign finance laws.

In an interview Wednesday, the progressive candidate called it a “smear campaign.”

The first two state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) complaints, filed by other people, alleged misuse of funds. They came after Binda made changes to filings in the days leading up to last week’s election, showing thousands of dollars spent on plane tickets, dental work, car towing, rent and tickets to events, among other things.

Binda acknowledged mistakes and said he personally reimbursed the campaign.

The Lynnwood City Council will discuss potential litigation and ethics concerns related to Binda’s campaign finances in an executive session next week. Lynnwood officials have been in talks with the city attorney, Councilmember Shannon Sessions said at a Monday council meeting.

Now, in a story and a PDC complaint of his own, Lotmore accuses Binda of not allowing him to inspect finances in a timely or thorough fashion before the election. Under state law, campaign books must be open to public analysis during the 10 business days prior to an election. The finances must be available within 48 hours of a request for inspection.

Lotmore wrote he made the request at 2:47 p.m. on Oct. 30. The original inspection meeting at a Lynnwood coffee shop was scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 1, within 48 hours. Binda rescheduled for 4 p.m. that day, making it over 49 hours since the request, according to Lotmore’s complaint.

State regulations also say the books should reflect all contributions and purchases. Lotmore wrote the records he saw did not include all appropriate documents. He reported Binda’s campaign provided no bank statements, only a four-page transaction history that did not include all expenditures or the underlying receipts and invoices.

Lynnwood County Council candidate Joshua Binda. (Josh Binda campaign)

Lynnwood County Council candidate Joshua Binda. (Josh Binda campaign)

Binda’s campaign consultant, Riall Johnson, said that’s not true. They let Lotmore look through at least 10 pages of bank statements and transactions, Johnson said.

Given his position as owner and a writer at a news outlet reporting on Binda’s campaign, Lotmore runs the risk of a conflict of interest, said George Erb, secretary of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, in an email.

“By filing a complaint against a Lynnwood City Council member, Lotmore the publisher runs the risk of aligning — or even appearing to align — his news site with partisans,” Erb wrote. “Such an act would be contrary to the values of professional journalists, in particular the value of independent reporting.”

Erb, a journalism instructor at Western Washington University, added it’s “hard to see how the interests of either the newsroom or the business are well served” by Lotmore’s move.

Mike Fancher, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government, wrote in an email he didn’t have a problem with Lotmore filing his complaint since it was central to his journalistic efforts. He said there are ethical challenges in this case and that the solution is transparency.

“At a minimum, Mario Lotmore’s biography on the newspaper’s website should include his candidacy and volunteering for the Republican Party,” wrote Fancher, the former executive editor of The Seattle Times.

But Fancher noted Lotmore’s work was vital to bringing Binda’s campaign finance issues to light.

The Lynnwood Times publisher did not respond to requests for comment.

Journalists sometimes file Public Disclosure Commission complaints when elected officials and organizations get in the way of their reporting. For example, Eli Sanders, a Pulitzer Prize-winning former reporter for The Stranger newspaper in Seattle, has filed complaints against Facebook and Google over their political advertising in Washington. His work has led to lawsuits filed by the state attorney general’s office and changes to company advertising policies.

As of Tuesday, Binda’s lead in the City Council race appeared insurmountable. He had almost 53% of the vote. He said he wants to go to City Hall with a “clean slate,” and he is excited “to be a strong voice for the community and represent them in the best way I can.”

Jake Goldstein-Street: 425-339-3439; jake.goldstein-street@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @GoldsteinStreet.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Firefighters respond to a 911 call on July 16, 2024, in Mill Creek. Firefighters from South County Fire, Tulalip Bay Fire Department and Camano Island Fire and Rescue left Wednesday to help fight the LA fires. (Photo provided by South County Fire)
Help is on the way: Snohomish County firefighters en route to LA fires

The Los Angeles wildfires have caused at least 180,000 evacuations. The crews expect to arrive Friday.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River. Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council approves water, sewer rate increases

The 43% rise in combined water and sewer rates will pay for large infrastructure projects.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Modern DNA tech comes through again for Everett police in 1989 murder case

Recent advances in forensic genealogy led to the suspect’s arrest in Clark County, Nevada.

Ari Smith, 14, cheers in agreement with one of the speakers during Snohomish County Indivisible’s senator office rally at the Snohomish County Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
More than 100 people gather in Everett to protest recent Trump actions

Protesters hoped to pressure lawmakers into delaying and disrupting action in the Senate.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.