Stadlman and Berg Clash on Taxes and Transit in 44th District Race

Republican Tonya Stadlman is running against Democratic State Rep. April Berg for the State House Position 2 seat in the Nov. 3 election. The race covers the 44th Legislative District, which includes Snohomish, Mill Creek, Maltby, Clearview, and North Creek. Berg, the first Black woman to represent the district, is seeking re-election. Stadlman has spent more than 30 years in the multifamily housing industry.

Berg has held various public roles, including service on school boards and as a planning commissioner for Mill Creek. She currently chairs the House Finance Committee in Olympia, where her focus is on taxation and tax policy. Stadlman has served as a precinct committee officer and works on the planning committee for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Housing affordability is the central issue in the campaign. Berg proposes reforming the permitting process to increase housing supply. She also supports a million-dollar earner’s tax, which would eliminate sales tax on household items, groceries, and over-the-counter medicine. Berg stated that this change would provide a 10% decrease at the register for every family without means testing.

Berg also plans to expand the Working Families Tax Credit to return money to eligible residents. Stadlman’s approach focuses on reducing taxes and utilizing existing housing stock. She proposes stopping annual gas tax increases and working to lower the sales tax burden.

Stadlman also wants to expand the multifamily tax exemption to existing rental properties in exchange for reduced rents. She advocates for auditing governments before they raise taxes. Stadlman argued that a government making life more expensive and then offering assistance to afford it asks residents to depend on the system causing the problem.

Both candidates identified transportation as a key issue. Berg cited the state’s Move Ahead Washington package, established in 2022 to fund transportation, fish passage, and transit projects. She said her priority is keeping projects in Snohomish County, including Highway 9 and the trestle, on schedule and within budget. Berg expressed confidence in balancing community priorities with budget realities even in times of deficit.

Stadlman listed improvements to U.S. 2, State Route 9, Interstate 5, and Interstate 405 as her transportation priorities. She called for greater oversight of project costs and schedules, better traffic signal coordination, and faster responses to roadway incidents. Stadlman stated that residents deserve to see their transportation dollars improve the roads they depend on.

Stadlman said she would measure results using commute times, travel-time reliability, and collision rates before and after improvements. She noted that not every solution requires a massive new project. She also emphasized the need to hold existing projects accountable for costs and schedules.

The candidates agree on one tax issue: they both support reforming the state’s business and occupation tax. This tax is calculated on gross receipts rather than profits, a structure that can affect businesses that pay tax regardless of whether they turn a profit. Berg is working on a margins tax proposal to change how businesses are taxed. She also cited work on a local government omnibus bill and legislation addressing free meals in K-12 public schools.

Both candidates told residents they want them to keep more of their money. Their proposals for addressing affordability, taxes, and transportation differ in method and scope, but they share the goal of increasing household purchasing power.