EVERETT, SEPT. 3: Everett City Council District 4 candidate Niko Battle is facing additional legal scrutiny after an Everett resident challenged Battle’s residency in Snohomish County Superior Court and at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office.
The resident alleges that Battle should not be certified as one of the top two vote-getters for the primary election due to residency inconsistencies.
Battle’s campaign has been under question for months, with claims that he is not eligible to run for the position and that Battle has been falsifying campaign finances.
Battle and opponent Alan Rubio received the highest number of votes during the August primary election.
The challenge was filed after the resident contacted the apartment building listed on Battle’s voter registration and received word from the building manager that they had no record of Battle living there, The Herald reported.
The hearing, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9 will determine Battle’s eligibility to run for Everett City Council, specifically District 4, based on requirements in the city charter.
On Wednesday, Aug. 27, a judge granted the City of Everett a motion to intervene in the case, in which they provided a procedural three-step framework on how to approach the allegations.
The Everett City Charter Code says that a person must be a registered voter and resident of the city for at least a year before the election to hold an elective office position.
An additional requirement for running for Everett City Council is being a resident of the district for at least six months before the primary election, which was held on Tuesday, August 5.
A second and separate hearing with the Auditor’s Office is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8 to determine if Battle is a resident of the address listed on his voter registration.
County Auditor Garth Fell will hear from both Battle and the resident who made the claim.
According to documents from the Snohomish County Elections office, Battle registered as a Snohomish County voter on May 7, 2025.
The city has made it clear that the motion made does not mean the city takes a position on who should be certified as the top two vote recipients.
“’…the City does believe it is in the best interests of the City, its citizens, and the rule of law, for this Court to resolve this action with a process that is straightforward, practical, and consistent with our State’s governing election contest statute…,” the motion reads.
Under state law, if a court rules that Battle is ineligible to be on the November ballot, the third-place candidate would take their place. That being Luis Burbano.
In addition to Battle’s eligibility being questioned, the former treasurer of Friends of Niko Battle (FoNB) campaign filed an official complaint to the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) claiming repeated finance violations.
“Over the course of my tenure at FoNB, it became increasingly clear that Niko’s requests for campaign finance records alterations were not well-meaning misunderstandings, but a malicious attempt to undermine the regulations set out in the Revised Code of Washington and Washington Administrative Code,” the complaint said.
The report claims that Battle failed to report campaign debts and falsified campaign records, improperly used campaign funds, and failed to provide campaign books for inspection within 48 hours.
The complaint is currently under investigation by PDC. This story in ongoing.
Updated 9/4: The Snohomish County Auditor’s Office hearing was scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 4 but has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 8.
