Mayor says Lynnwood address verified after local report alleging vice president lives outside city

Mayor Christine Frizzell told attendees at the Lynnwood City Council meeting on Jan. 27 that staff had met with Council Vice President Josh Bridal and verified the address he provided with the Snohomish County Elections and Voter Registration Office after a local news story raised questions about his residency.

The announcement came amid a string of public comments accusing Bridal of living outside Lynnwood, calling for resignations and criminal referrals, and asking the city to release whatever evidence it had. Several residents said they would pursue inquiries with the county auditor and state officials.

Why this matters: The city’s elected officials must meet residency requirements in state law and city rules; allegations that an elected member does not live in the jurisdiction can prompt legal reviews and affect votes already taken.

At the meeting several residents made direct allegations. A caller identifying himself as Dio said a Linwood Times investigation found Bridal had been evicted from a Lynnwood apartment and was living in South Everett; he said Bridal “may have violated state and federal elections laws.” Jason Moore, another resident, cited the same news report and urged Bridal to resign. Margaret Lotmore asked the mayor to release whatever evidence she had that confirmed Bridal’s residency.

Council members responded in different ways. Council President Nick Coelho said an emergency meeting of city leadership found what he believed was “a really big crazy misunderstanding” and that, to the best of his knowledge, Bridal resides in Lynnwood. He added that much of the material in the news article was “personal” and that Bridal alone can answer personal questions.

Council Member Patrick Decker pressed for formal proof and for the council to rely on documents state agencies accept as residency evidence. Decker read aloud a portion of state law on eligibility and described documents the state accepts for proof of residency, saying, “You have to have lived here for for an entire year without break in order to run for elected office or to hold elected office.” He listed examples the state accepts, including a concealed pistol license, homeowner insurance documentation, a utility bill, a property tax statement, mortgage documents or certain government-issued checks.

Bridal addressed the meeting briefly. He said he had filed for a protective order against Mario Lotmore and the owner of the Linwood Times and described the filing as a step to protect his family from what he called “dangerous and gross misinformation.” He said he would not “be getting into specifics of some things right now”…