Cost of living looms large in 38th District races

EVERETT — A Democratic Socialist and a Republican are facing two Democratic incumbents to represent the 38th Legislative District in Olympia.

Annie Fitzgerald and Marnie Claywell are vying to unseat the incumbents representing the district encompassing Everett and much of Marysville and Tulalip alongside Democrat Sen. June Robinson.

Fitzgerald, of Marysville, is challenging Rep. Julio Cortes, D-Everett, for Position 1. The first-time candidate argues a more leftist stance is needed to “move the needle” in Olympia.

In August’s primary, Cortes garnered 59.8% of votes, while Fitzgerald took 21.3%. The two ousted Bryce Nickel, a Democratic disability advocate who aligned himself with Andrew Yang’s centrist Forward Party.

Claywell, another first-time candidate, is challenging incumbent Rep. Mary Fosse, D-Everett, for Position 2. The Republican wants to curtail sex education in schools and boost parental rights, crack down on immigration and lower taxes.

Claywell was Fosse’s only challenger in the primary. Fosse garnered 61.8% of votes, while Claywell took 37.9%.

State representatives earn about $62,000 per year.

Position 1

Cortes, 38, emigrated from Mexico with his family when he was 5. He worked in homeless youth outreach at Cocoon House in Everett for nearly a decade. He’s also served on boards and committees for Leadership Snohomish County, Everett Public Schools and the Everett Public Facilities District.

In 2022, Cortes won the seat for the first time over Republican Gary Kemp. Since then, he’s worked to pass bills to curb youth homelessness, regulate the juvenile justice system and diversify police and prosecutor recruits. If he keeps the seat, Cortes has more legislative plans aimed at the economy, housing and public safety.

This year, he pushed for a bill to cap rent increases, but it stalled in the Senate. He wants to keep at it, he said, as about half of residents in Everett are renters.

“I’m going to continue to fight for equitable housing opportunities,” he said. “People should be able to afford to live where they want to live.”

Cortes also wants to amend Washington’s “upside-down” tax code to make those with higher incomes pay more in taxes.

He said investing in education, workforce development programs and local small businesses — like the Latino center in Everett lawmakers agreed to fund earlier this year — would support marginalized groups and boost the economy. Cortes also wants to make the district a “mecca for the green tech industry” by offering incentives to businesses with waste prevention policies.

Meanwhile, Fitzgerald said she’s more progressive than Cortes — and it’s past time to see people with disabilities represented in Olympia.

Fitzgerald, 43, was born in Snohomish blind and with multiple life-threatening disorders. She spent her early childhood in the foster care system. Later, she worked as a private investigator on and off for 12 years.

If elected, her priorities would be the economy, housing, health care, education and accessibility requirements.

One of Fitzgerald’s goals would be improving ramp accessibility, which she called “the bare minimum of accommodations.” She noted cities like Marysville have fallen decades behind on Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

Fitzgerald supports a Universal Basic Income, free college, universal health care and a $20 or higher minimum wage — including the minimum wage initiative in Everett. To help graduates, she wants the state to buy or cancel student debt as well as eliminate fees for business licensing and certifications.

Fitzgerald wants more public housing and tax breaks for affordable housing developers. And a long-term vacancy tax would urge landlords to quickly fill vacancies “instead of price gouging renters,” she said.

To help, Fitzgerald said she would want to invest in more housing vouchers and local housing agencies. She would try to start a state Department of Housing and redirect money in the state budget away from policing, jails and health care.

“It’s more expensive to take care of someone who is homeless,” she said, “than it is to just give them a home.”

The housing, education and health care systems aren’t working for most people, she said. But there is no quick fix, she acknowledged.

In response to Fitzgerald claiming she is more progressive, Cortes said he is “a strong Democrat with progressive values.”

“Universal health care would be great, free college would be great,” he said. “The reality is, we need to focus on funding our schools right now. We’re not doing well. We need to make sure we can pay for the things we already have going on.”

As of Monday, Cortes had raised more than $100,000 for his re-election. Contributors include the Tulalip Tribes, the Raikes Foundation, Amazon and Puget Sound Energy. His endorsements include Planned Parenthood, the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee and Washington Conservation Action.

Fitzgerald had raised about $1,340.

Position 2

Fosse, 42, became passionate about helping working families after experiencing poverty and housing instability as a child. As an adult, she started a small business in Everett and now serves on the Everett City Council.

“The first time I was on the picket line, I was 9 months old,” she said. “Unions were the reason we ultimately got out of poverty, because they fought for living wages and benefits so that our family could have health care.”

In 2022, Fosse won the House seat for the first time against Republican Mark James. In office, she’s worked to pass bills that support substance use disorder and mental health treatment, off-ramps from the criminal justice system and unemployment benefits for caregivers. She’s the vice chair of the House’s Labor and Workplace Standards and Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans committees and sits on the Capital Budget Committee.

Some of Fosse’s bills to pass last session included expanding child care tax credits for people in state apprenticeships and creating an oversight committee to improve job pathways and training for construction apprenticeships at state prisons.

“One of the best ways to reduce recidivism is having a good paying job right out of the gate,” Fosse said.

In she keeps the seat, Fosse has legislative plans for more housing, child care and job support. Like Cortes, she supported the bill to cap rent increases. Her eyes are on passing a similar bill next session.

Meanwhile, Claywell is focused on education, immigration and public safety. She moved to Everett in 1998, according to her website. Her career experience includes finance, administration and working as a nonprofit director. She has said she is a federally-certified housing counselor. These counselors help people manage their housing related finances.

She did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

Claywell wants to boost parental control over school curriculum, specifically sex education. She promotes the conservative Washington Parents Network that is against gender-affirming health care and inclusive sports.

She also supports Initiative 2081, the parental “bill of rights” that passed earlier this year. The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and other legal groups are challenging the law.

In her Ballotpedia survey, Claywell said she would work to reduce barriers for home builders and remodeling companies to increase housing and reduce costs. She also wants to repeal a capital gains tax that went into effect in 2022. With Initiative 2109, voters will have the chance to repeal the tax in November.

Claywell also said she doesn’t want Washington to be a sanctuary state for non-citizens.

“United States citizens cannot support the unrestricted entry of illegals to our country,” she wrote. “A friend of mine’s elderly mother was accosted by illegals, and it scared her so much she stopped driving.”

Fosse challenged Claywell’s position on education and immigration. The true needs in education, she said, are more paraeducators as well as more mental health and special needs support for students. And immigrants are valued members of the district, she said.

As of Monday, Fosse had raised nearly $79,000. Contributors include the Washington State Democrats, UnitedHealth Group, Puget Sound Energy, several labor groups and local tribes. Her endorsements include the Tulalip Tribes, Planned Parenthood and more than 35 labor groups.

Claywell had raised about $7,300. Her endorsements include the state and county Republican parties and Pastor Picks, a local pastor’s political endorsement website.

Ballots will be mailed Thursday. They are due Nov. 5.

Sydney Jackson: 425-339-3430; sydney.jackson@heraldnet.com; X: @_sydneyajackson.