Lynnwood council debates next move after discovery of appointees explicit social media activity

The Lynnwood City Council is facing a critical situation as it seeks to appoint a new councilmember after Jessica Roberts withdrew her appointment due to the discovery of her explicit online content. This incident marks the third attempt to fill the vacancy left by former Councilmember Julieta Altamirano-Crosby. Roberts resigned just hours before a special meeting, stating that the scrutiny of her personal life posed a potential distraction for the council. In their discussions, council members considered running background checks and vetting social media accounts of the remaining candidates: Robert Leutwyler, Nazanin Lashgari, Chelsea Wright, and Forrest Baum. City Attorney Lisa Marshall clarified that the laws surrounding the appointment process are not specific, giving the council some leeway in how they proceed.

Council President Nick Coelho suggested multiple pathways forward, including re-interviewing candidates or inviting additional applicants for consideration. The council members showed a consensus towards moving forward with the four remaining candidates but did not reach a decision on conducting further interviews. The council plans to reconvene on Monday to finalize their approach and ensure a new member is appointed before the 90-day deadline.