Coughlin and Wheeler move forward in the race for the mayor of Bremerton after primary
Preliminary results from the Kitsap County Auditor's Office showed that Wheeler led at 51.71%, receiving 2,317 votes of the 4,481 total, with Coughlin next after drawing 33.63%, or 1,507 votes.
"We have worked hard over the last seven years, and our community recognizes that. I've run a positive campaign focused on meeting and talking with constituents, and I look forward to continuing that and reaching even more voters before November," Wheeler said.
Coughlin, a current city councilmember and former NASA scientist, said that he and his team were "thrilled" with the results: "I think tonight we saw that -- especially as all the votes are carried over the next few days -- I think we'll see that the majority of Bremerton is ready for some positive change."
Marwan Cameron, former OC instructor and non-profit director, will not advance. Cameron, who ran unsuccessfully for city council in 2023, finished with 14.66%, or 657 votes.
"Tonight is about the people of the city. It'd be great to come in second or first, but the big thing was to bring attention to the issues, and we've definitely done that, and we're going to continue to do so," Cameron said Tuesday night. "We'll see what happens in four years."
The overall turnout across Kitsap County, where there were just six contested local primary races, the Kitsap Regional Library levy lid lift, and a primary for state Senate 26th District, was about 28.9%, according to the auditor's office. More than 58,000 ballots were received as of Tuesday, and updated totals will be reported on Wednesday, Kitsap County Auditor Paul Andrews said.
Related election news: Kitsap voters support library levy increase, preliminary result shows
Related election news: School board races narrowed in Bremerton, North Kitsap after primary
Bremerton City Council
Two candidates emerged in the one contested primary for a city council position in Bremerton, with Christy Cammarta leading the field in the District 3 race at 45.5%, or 382 of the total 839 ballots counted as of Tuesday night. Michael Simonds was second, with 39.5% (331), and will also advance to November's general election. Candidate Ash Black finished third, with 15%, or 126 votes. The district is currently represented by Jeff Coughlin, who advanced in the primary for mayor on Tuesday.
Three other council positions will appear on the November ballot, though two drew only the incumbent. Councilmember Jennifer Chamberlin, District 1, is running unopposed, as is Councilmember Michael Goodnow, for District 5. Council District 7 will be represented by a new name, with candidates Rick Tift, currently a Bremerton Planning Commission member, facing Matthew Baptiste-Cerra.
Bainbridge Island City Council
In the one island council district contested in the primary, for the District 3 South Ward, Mike Nelson led the three candidates with 40 percent of the total, or 739 votes. He was followed by former city councilmember Sarah Blossom, with 34.4% (635) votes. Those two will advance to November's general election. Dawn Janow, a commissioner with the Bainbridge Island Metro Parks board, finished third, with 25.6% (472).
Island voters will decide three city council positions in November. In addition to the District 3 position, the District 5 Central Ward drew incumbent Clarence Moriwaki and challenge Peter Raffa, and the District 7 North Ward will pit incumbent Joe Deets against Lara Lent.
26th District Senate
A state legislative seat was on the primary ballot for voters in Kitsap and Pierce counties, though the only two candidates listed were already planning to advance to November's general election. State law requires a partisan race to have a primary even if there are not three candidates.
For the 26th District, which spans parts of Bremerton, South Kitsap and Pierce County through Gig Harbor, Republican Michelle Caldier, currently the 26th District House rep, led incumbent Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, by less than 100 votes. Caldier drew 50.04%, or 14,659, according to the Washington Secretary of State. Krishnadasan, who was appointed to fill the seat when Emily Randall was elected to Congress, finished Tuesday's initial returns with 49.74%, or 14,570. There were also 63 write-in votes.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Coughlin and Wheeler advance in the race for the mayor of Bremerton
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