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Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Coughlin and Wheeler move forward in the race for the mayor of Bremerton after primary
Jeff Coughlin and Greg Wheeler will meet on the ballot for Bremerton mayor during the fall general election after Tuesday's primary decided the two candidates to advance. 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 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bremerton mayoral candidate sees his city's needs from the ground up
From "Professor Spaghetti" to a block party barbeque to talk about his campaign, Marwan Cameron wants to be sure his city is fed. Meals are just one thing the first-time mayoral candidate has made consistent in his service to neighbors and other residents since Cameron arrived in Bremerton 28 years ago. His Olympic College degree led to a master's in business management, and eventually job at the Navy's college office in the shipyard and as an OC instructor. That's where Cameron got the inspiration for an informal program to serve dinner to students struggling to balance life, class work and paying the bills, keeping them on campus with a hot meal in a room at the former library building. The moment became a revelation that turned into a "steps to success" program that encompassed counseling service, computer lab access and, of course, cheap lunches, and in a sense led Cameron to the decision earlier this year to run for the city's top office against two-term Mayor Greg Wheeler and City Councilman Jeff Coughlin. "Unless we do something radical and make changes, then we're going to have more of the same," Cameron said during an interview about his mayoral ambitions at his home on Broadway Avenue, not far from OC's campus. "The cost on the back end is people." Cameron has two top priorities as he campaigns: food security and transportation being accessible to all. The first stems from the involvement that began at the college; the second from his career in the service industry that developed after leaving the education world. Cameron has operated Gather Together Grown Together, a Bremerton-based nonprofit, since 2018. It's a transportation provider, essentially a low-cost taxi service, that contracts with 40 different agencies around Kitsap County to provide rides, mainly for low-income residents or others with multiple needs. Cameron said Gather Together Grow Together's service has expanded since its launch, and not only does the agency offer a lift, employees will also accompany a client through a court proceeding, help navigate child custody arrangements, or drop everything to drive someone to a detox clinic when they decide to get clean. His organization is driven to do so because of the limited nature of public transit, which in Kitsap currently can't accommodate workers on late-night shifts, or students. Pressed for an example, Cameron said he'd work with the business community to understand the needs of employees and employers, possibly mirroring how Kitsap Transit's worker-driver buses function as a partnership to provide transit for shipyard workers at a low cost and cut traffic congestion. "If I can't get there, I can't help myself and my family," Cameron said, echoing the conundrum he's often heard from working-class residents. "The greatest asset is time, not money." Cameron's other passion that has developed in recent years is evident when visiting his home studio. A large flat-screen monitor is perched on a wall, with multiple computers and audio equipment filling the room where he records his regular podcast and video show, "The Conduit." The podcast has featured guests from the community that Cameron will interview with a focus on a political or social issue. He also sees the forum at a public service platform, and offers time for leaders from the Spanish-speaking or Mam-speaking community to share information. Other shows have explained where severe weather shelters may be found, or offered time to Fil-Am groups to highlight their voices. The Conduit also live streams city council meetings or community town halls, drawing Cameron's interest to a Bremerton District 4 council race in 2023, where he finished behind Jane Rebelowski. "You name it, if you call, I'm there," Cameron said of his willingness to fill gaps in the media landscape with his skills and technical setup. "It's about being of service, filling a void." The Conduit was particularly active in 2024, as the city government continued debate about a potential camping ban to address encampments that grew around the downtown area, including one coined "Wheelerville" not far from Cameron's home. It was a debate that he was close to in terms of physical proximity, through Gather Together Grow Together's work transporting people in need to shelters, and his volunteerism with Rock the Block, a grassroots effort to meet the needs of homeless people by serving lunches or other direct service. "We're effective, and we get stuff done," Cameron said of Rock the Block, making a clear distinction from what he saw in the reaction from city government. Cameron was pointed in comments about the city's reaction to the issue, particularly the lack of response when Rock the Block complained about the prevalence of drug dealers preying on individuals living on the street. He said including those volunteers when potential shelter sites are discussed would be a way to empower neighborhoods and activate cooperation rather than fall back into a "NIMBY" debate, which pushes marginalized residents around. But Cameron said he also understands concerns in those neighborhoods, particularly their affordability. He said the cost of living in Bremerton has become the consistent theme he's heard while campaigning this summer, and as a member of the city's audit committee he holds the opinion that resources like city-owned property could be used to help spur development. And as a father to a teenage daughter, he knows how real the decisions made by the next leader may be. "Can she live here in four years?" The Kitsap Sun asked the following three questions of each candidate in Bremerton's mayoral primary. Answers are below. The Bremerton City Council is currently debating the effectiveness of the city Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program, which offers tax incentives for residential construction. Do you believe the MFTE has been effective in encouraging development and/or creating affordable housing in Bremerton? Would you support continuing the program as is, making changes to it or potentially pausing it? The Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program in Bremerton hasn't delivered on what the public was promised. It's helped developers build luxury apartments, but it hasn't meaningfully addressed our affordable housing crisis. Mayor Wheeler and some city council members, like Jeff Coughlin, continue to frame this as smart growth, but for whom? Growth without affordability just displaces our working-class families, elders, and young people. Developers have received tax breaks while the public gets little in return. Meanwhile, people who grew up here can't afford to live here anymore. I do not support continuing the MFTE in its current form. In fact, I don't believe developers should be receiving tax breaks at all — especially when the housing they build is out of reach for most Bremertonians. If we're going to offer tax incentives, they should go to residents who create truly affordable housing, like those building ADUs for low-income tenants. Any future version of this program must require real affordability — 100% of units, deeply below market rate. If we're giving up public dollars, those dollars must serve the public good — not pad developer profits. This isn't just a policy failure — it's a failure of priorities. As mayor, I'll make sure we put Bremerton residents first. The city enacted ordinances to crack down on public camping and encampments, in reaction to a growing issue with homelessness in recent years. No plan has yet been announced for a new emergency shelter in the city, despite more than a year of discussion and different sites being identified. How should the city play a role in assuring the availability of shelter beds in the future, and addressing the visible homelessness still observed in some areas of Bremerton? The city's response to homelessness has focused more on hiding the problem than solving it. Ordinances targeting public camping are enforced, but where were folks supposed to go? Predators openly sell drugs, and instead of action, we get finger-pointing between the mayor and city council. COVID exposed how deep our homelessness, addiction, and mental health crises run. Experts warned it would get worse — and they were right — but instead of planning ahead, our leadership prioritized everything else. We need a real investment — not another failed experiment like Wheelerville in Jeff Coughlin's district. As mayor, I'll prioritize public safety for all of our residents and work endlessly to slow and decrease homelessness through housing, shelters, transportation, healthcare access and utilizing and supporting all of our service providers, especially grassroots. I'll continue to work with nonprofits, churches, mental health providers, and housing advocates to build a full response: safe transitional housing, long-term options, mobile outreach, hygiene access, storage, and case management. It is unfathomable that residents, businesses and mostly the unhoused are suffering while mere blocks away, those who celebrate at Quincy Square. That is not America. That is not Bremerton. We need economic growth and prosperity for all of us. The Downtown Bremerton Association is currently surveying constituents to gather feedback and ideas to help fill vacant storefronts around the city. How would you, if elected mayor, encourage development with specific policies that would help businesses open and grow? The fact that the Downtown Bremerton Association is surveying the public to fill empty storefronts shows how disconnected our city leadership has been. We've seen tax breaks for developers and plenty of ribbon cuttings, but not enough support for the small businesses that keep Bremerton alive. Meanwhile, downtown and key corridors across the city sit half-empty, and rent is out of reach for local entrepreneurs trying to get started. As mayor, I'll push for policies that directly support our people. That starts with exploring creating a small business incubator that offers short-term leases, reduced rent in city-owned buildings, and startup grants. I'll work with landlords to allow temporary pop-ups in empty spaces and simplify the permitting process, which right now is a maze. New 'business' developments seeking tax incentives will be required to include affordable retail space for local businesses — not just chains or outside investors. If we want a vibrant economy, we need to invest in the people who are already here. The city should be a partner — not a barrier — to business growth. Under my leadership, Bremerton will finally put local business first. For more: Watch the League of Women Voters-Kitsap's interview with Marwan Cameron, part of its 2025 primary election coverage. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Bremerton candidate sees residents needs in mayoral campaign
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayoral races in Bremerton, Poulsbo draw candidates in early filing, and KRL levy planned
Two mayoral elections in Kitsap County cities officially have a matchup for the 2025 election and several other city council positions attracted candidates on Monday, the first day of filing week through the Kitsap County Auditor. In addition, voters countywide will weigh a ballot measure from the Kitsap Regional Library in August. As expected, current Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler filed to run for a third term in city hall, and this year he'll be challenged by current City Councilmember Jeff Coughlin. Both had earlier announced their intention to run and have begun campaigning in the city. In Poulsbo, the two candidates who have announced -- Ed Stern and Dan Weedin -- both filed the paperwork to appear on the ballot. Kitsap Regional Library's Proposition 1 proposes what's known as a "levy lid lift" for its regular assessment of property taxes to maintain operations. KRL's board approved sending the ballot measure to voters for approval, raising the district's levy from $0.27 per $1,000 in property valuation to $0.39. Below, find a list of candidates who have filed for city and school board races across Kitsap, as well as the one legislative district in the area up for election, as of Monday afternoon. Candidates must file to run in the August primary by Friday, May 9. The Kitsap Sun will continue to update this file during the week as more candidates file for office and primary matchups emerge. For more information on how to file to run for public office, or see a list of positions up for election this year, visit the Kitsap County Auditor's elections page. Related: Election season opens in Kitsap with filing week for 2025 primary candidates Bainbridge Island City Council: Sarah Blossom (District 3); Dawn Janow (District 3); Clarence Moriwaki (District 5, incumbent); Peter Raffa (District 5); Joe Deets (District 7, incumbent) Bremerton mayor: Greg Wheeler (incumbent); Jeff Coughlin Bremerton City Council: Jennifer Chamberlain (District 1, incumbent); Ash Black (District 3); Christy Cammarata (District 3); Rick Tift (District 7) Bremerton Municipal Court Judge: Steve King Port Orchard City Council: John Morrisey (District 2, incumbent); Scott Diener (District 3, incumbent); Fred Chang (District 6, incumbent); Jay Rosapepe (At-large, incumbent); Kimberly Shaw (At-large) Poulsbo mayor: Ed Stern; Dan Weedin Poulsbo City Council: Michael Fitzpatrick (Position 5); Doug Tabor (Position 6, incumbent); Gary McVey (Position 7, incumbent) Bremerton: Ben Anderson (Position 5, incumbent) Bainbridge Island: Erika Borg (District 2); Jill Anderson (District 5); Central Kitsap: Denise Tracy (District 1, incumbent); Eric Greene (District 5, incumbent) North Kitsap: Seth Hartman (District 1) South Kitsap: Brian Pickard (District 3) Senate, 26th District: Deb Krishnadasan (Democrat, incumbent); Michelle Caldier (Republican) This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap County 2025 primary election candidates
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Election season opens in Kitsap with filing week for 2025 primary candidates
Nearly 80 local elected positions and one state Senate seat will formally secure candidates this coming week for Kitsap and North Mason voters, as the state's annual filing week for the primary on August 5 opens on Monday, May 5. Candidates for the two highest city offices up for election in 2025 have already made announcements. In Bremerton, incumbent Mayor Greg Wheeler and challenger Jeff Coughlin, currently a city councilmember on an expiring term, have each publicly announced an intention to run. In Poulsbo, where current Mayor Becky Erickson is retiring after 14 years leading the city, 25-year veteran councilman Ed Stern and longtime civic booster Dan Weedin have both launched campaigns. The one state legislative seat that voters will see, as well as the only partisan race on the ballot for 2025, also has two announced candidates. In the 26th District, stretching from Bremerton to Gig Harbor, current Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, a Democrat, was appointed to the position last December to replace Emily Randall, who is now the Sixth District representative in Congress. She intends to run for election to retain the position, and current 26th District Rep. Michelle Caldier, a Republican, has announced her run to move over to the Senate. Candidates for the 26th District position must file with the Washington State Secretary of State's office. In total 14 city council positions will be open across Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island, 14 school board seats across the area's six districts, and 16 openings on various port commissions will be contested. Bremerton Municipal Court Judge Tracy Flood, currently suspended by the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct, also is at the end of a four-year term, and there will be an election. The primary is scheduled for August 5, and elections with only two candidates will advance directly to the general election on November 4. Candidates interested in filing for public office must do so by Friday, May 9, with the Kitsap County Auditor's Office. Information on how to declare and pay filing fees is available at or by visiting the auditor's office at the county administration building, 619 Division Street, Port Orchard. Email auditor@ or call 360-307-8683 with questions. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap's 2025 election candidates filing for primary next week
