This article was updated to include a statement from Council President Nick Coelho.
Less than 24 hours after appointing Jessica Roberts to the Lynnwood City Council, councilmembers are set to discuss potentially rescinding her appointment, according to a press release from City Clerk Luke Lonie.
A special business meeting is scheduled Thursday for the council to discuss in an executive session “the qualifications of a candidate for elective office, decide whether to rescind the appointment of a candidate to the vacant Council Position #5 approved at the March 10, 2025 City Council Business Meeting, and to discuss the next steps in the vacancy appointment process,” Lonie said. He did not provide any additional information in the press release.
The announcement comes after social media posts criticizing the council’s decision to appoint Roberts in light of sexually explicit content she posted to the internet before her appointment to the position.
“The Lynnwood City Council’s decision to meet on Thursday is the members doing their due diligence,” Roberts said in an email Tuesday to Lynnwood Today. “While I appreciate, and understand the concern, regarding the revelations around my personal life, this would not impact my ability to do the job I was appointed to do or my ability to serve my fellow residents.”
Council President Nick Coelho responded to the situation Tuesday night in an email to Lynnwood Today.
“New information has come to light about a candidate chosen by our appointment process,” Coelho wrote. “… It’s important for our residents to know that we have only three pieces of information to use as consideration for appointments: a brief civic questionnaire, a resume, and an interview in our Council Chambers. All of this is provided by the applicant themselves and received in good faith. We are advised to stick to these three pieces of information in order to make the process as objective as possible.”
Monday night was the second time in trying to fill this vacancy that the council came to a tie vote. The council then met in executive session to discuss a way forward, he said. The council returned to chambers after the executive session and unanimously voted to appoint Roberts.
“This swing in votes appears to have created confusion among some of our residents,” Coelho said. “In actuality, it is simply customary (or at least tasteful) for the Council to vote unanimously for the candidate who has secured a majority of votes in order to foster community confidence and set a positive tone. This happened last night.”
Coelho continued:
“There are now concerns that very relevant information to our deliberation was — whether intentionally or unintentionally — withheld that would have weighed heavily on our decision. With this new information in mind, we have noticed a Special Business Meeting for this Thursday. Its aim is to build to a consensus on whether or not we wish to move forward with this applicant. I’d like to thank our residents for their patience as we let the process play out.”
Roberts was the second person appointed to this vacancy. In February, the council voted to appoint Rebecca Thornton to the position, but she stepped down only an hour before she was set to take an oath of office.
Former Councilmember Julieta Altamirano-Crosby resigned from the seat on Jan. 6. According to state law, the council must fill the vacancy within 90 days after it becomes vacant. This means the council has until April 5 to fill the vacancy.
— Contact Ashley at ashley@myedmondsnews.com.
Dear City of Lynnwood, Mayor, City Council and Residents,
Jessica Roberts was unanimously voted to be the next city council member on March 10th, 2025. She has a bachelor’s degree in humanities and has a background in project management and customer service. Jessica Robert’s interview was impressive especially among candidates who have had years of experience with the city.
We would like to remind you the reasons of why you voted unanimously for Jessica Roberts out of the entire selection of excellent candidates to represent the public and the community which as you know also includes the LGBTQAI+ community. Please do not ignore, pass off or dismiss the Transgender community because the reality is the community exists and are citizens of Lynnwood who work, play, teach and protect this city and are deserving of the same considerations and understanding afforded to any other person. We caution you not to not judge a candidate based on their private postings, gender identity whether it be male, female, transgender, intersex or non-binary because frankly, that would be discrimination.
It is unfortunate we have media that continues to use a person’s personal photos to debase, demean and attack. That does not mean the City Council needs to join this effort in invading a person’s personal account and comments on a dating website. And I would like to kindly remind the city of Lynnwood the Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the rights of Transgenders with Lynnwood businesses.
We applaud Lynnwood City Council for selecting Roberts based on her skills, experience and accomplishment and encourage a fair and objective review.
Sincerely, with Pride,
Charlette LeFevre and Philip Lipson
She/Her, He/Him
Directors Lynnwood Pride
I’m not sure the posting on “Only Fans” were private as the site is very much public, it’s not like someone hacked into her personal private secure email and stole the images and comments she posted. And “Only Fans” is not a “dating” website aka eharmony, Tinder, or Bumble so please stop with the false comparison, rather “OnlyFans, which has been around for eight years, is online content subscription service that provides a distribution for amateur pornography”(Medium) . And I”m puzzled? How is fantasizing about harming others, especially children, equate with a healthy mind?
Look in the mirror. Take some time and self reflect.
You are why Trump won a landslide.
Get the message.
The majority of people do not agree with you.
Go outside of your echo chamber and talk to people instead of at them. You are asking for recognition and respect, it’s a two way street.
So all anyone who applies for this important, paid, decision making, position only requires “…a brief civic questionnaire, a resume, and an interview in our Council Chambers. All of this is provided by the applicant themselves and received in good faith. We are advised to stick to these three pieces of information in order to make the process as objective as possible…” Who’s advising? All I can say is – BS. No wonder Lynnwood’s City Council (and others in highly compensated positions) is what it is…
Who cares if she posted naked online for money. She was chosen b/c of her work ethic and that has zero to do with being naked.
So the First Lady Melania Trump can pose fully naked for British GQ and that is overlooked yet a small city council member gets attacked for flirting in their underwear? Please!