Ballots have been mailed for the August primary election in Kitsap County, and voters have until Tuesday, Aug. 5 to cast their votes. Two candidates will advance from each of the five contested primaries from several cities and school districts, setting up the November 4 general election with mayors, city councils and school district boards contested around the county.
In addition, one local funding measure, a levy lift request from Kitsap Regional Library, is on the August ballot.
Below, you can find a list of stories and candidate Q&As to research candidates and issues. In addition, this election season the League of Women Voters Kitsap is producing short video interviews with all candidates who participate. You can review those at the LWVK’s candidate interviews website. And the Kitsap County Auditor’s Office produced the official local voters pamphlet, which may be found here.
How to cast your ballot
Voters must postmark their ballots by Tuesday, Aug. 5, if sent through the U.S. mail. Alternately, ballots can be dropped off at a county elections box by 8 p.m. on Aug. 6, and vote centers are available the Saturday and Monday before election day, as well as on that Tuesday. For a list of locations of the 27 county ballot dropboxes, visit the Kitsap County Auditor’s website, and vote centers are located at the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division St. in Port Orchard; the Marvin Williams Recreation Center at 725 Park Ave. in Bremerton; and the Poulsbo Fire Station, 911 NE Liberty Road.
Haven’t received a ballot yet?
Those who need to register to vote or change your address may do so online by Monday, July 28, at votewa.gov, or by mailing a registration form, found here. In person registration is available daily at the Kitsap County Administration Building until election day, and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day at one of the three county vote centers. Those registering in person must sign a statement that you are a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote and provide a form of identification. The voting centers also offer services for those lost or did not receive their ballots in the mail, voters needing to change their addresses, and voters wishing to vote using the Accessible Voting Unit.
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Bremerton mayor
Marwan Cameron, a former OC instructor and director of a non-profit focused on transportation
Jeff Coughlin, current city councilmember and former NASA scientist
Greg Wheeler, elected twice as mayor, running for a third term in office
One city council race also has a primary in Bremerton, for council district 3. Candidates are Ash Black, Christy Cammarata and Michael Simonds.
North Kitsap School District board
Debra Strawhun and Leighton Thomas are listed on the primary ballot for the District 1 position, and answered questions for the Kitsap Sun’s election guide. Seth Hartmann confirmed to the Kitsap Sun he is not actively campaigning though his name will appear on the ballot.
Bremerton School District board
Position 4: Jenny Farley, Shannon Turner and Chris Warthen
Position 5: Ben Anderson, Mary Devery and Linda Simpson
Read a Q&A that includes all candidates here.
Bainbridge Island City Council
Sarah Blossom, Dawn Janow and Mike Nelson are contesting the primary for the District 3, South Ward position.
Proposition 1: Kitsap Regional Library levy rate increase
Proposition 1, increasing KRL’s levy rate from 27 cents to 39 cents per $1,000 to fund operations. Read more here.
