


A 23-year-old city councilman in Washington state is getting heat for promoting his latest speaking tour at local schools with a hunky shirtless photo of himself on Instagram.
Lynwood councilman Josh Binda — whose 2022 election made him the state’s youngest black man to win office — is kicking off a “Love Conquers All” tour at middle and high schools in his district.
Advertisement
Celebrating his latest appearance at one of the schools last month, Binda’s post directly addressed the students and announced the launch of his own public speaking business to talk with kids across the state and nation.
But it was the inclusion of a shirtless politician’s pic that riled parents, with some calling it “disgraceful and unacceptable,” KIRO 7 reports.
“I feel deeply insulted and angry that a councilman could do something like this to promote himself,” one resident told the city council March 27. “He even encouraged kids to tattoo his name on their bodies. Like I don’t know what he’s thinking about.”
Jason Rantz, a conservative radio host, also condemned the councilman, claiming Binda had “an ego competing with Meghan and Harry.”
Advertisement
In the Instagram post, Binda wrote: “As I prepare to speak at more conferences and schools in and out of state here soon, I’ve had time to reflect on my first tour here and how much all you students truly meant to me. To all the students I’ve inspired, talked too, helped, coached, or impacted this ‘Love Conquers All’ tattoo is dedicated to you and my way of remembering you all forever and keeping y’all with me everywhere I go moving forward.”
At the council meeting, Binda defended the post, claiming there was nothing sexual about it as the shirtless picture was meant to draw attention to the tattoo on his arm that reads: “Love Conquers All.”
Advertisement
“I am a positive role model for the youth and will continue doing work in being a positive role model. I think it’s easy to sexualize something that was not meant to be sexual at all,” he said at the meeting.
He also condemned the local Lynwood Times, which published a damning article about the incident, with the councilman claiming writer Mario Lotmore has “made it [his] mission to tear me down cause they see the influence and power I have over the next generation and don’t like it.”
Advertisement
The criticism against him is fueled by “racism, discrimination, intimidation and misinformation,” he added.
Binda did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
It’s not the first time Binda has been on the hot seat; he was found guilty of breaching campaign finance laws earlier this year and was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
He is also currently under investigation for allegedly using the city council chambers to shoot a promotional video without authorization.