Voters in Bremerton will narrow the field for mayor in the Aug. 5 primary election, choosing between incumbent Greg Wheeler, city councilmember Jeff Coughlin, and nonprofit executive director Marwan Cameron. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November.

Wheeler is serving his second term as Bremerton’s mayor. Before his election, he spent eight years on the City Council, including three as council president. A U.S. Navy veteran and 34-year Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employee, Wheeler holds a BA from Chapman University and an MBA from Brandman University. He also serves on numerous regional boards, including the Puget Sound Regional Council and Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Wheeler is a member of Bremerton’s Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs and has held leadership roles with Kitsap Community Resources, Olympic College, and the Salvation Army.

Coughlin is a current Bremerton City Councilmember and council president. He chairs the city’s Finance and Audit Committees and serves on multiple regional boards, including Kitsap 911 and the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Coughlin holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from New Mexico State University and a B.S. in Physics from Emory University. A former NASA Kepler Mission Director and certified project manager, he has received NASA’s Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal. Coughlin is a former Planning Commissioner and co-founded the Alliance for Equitable Healthcare. He lives in Bremerton with his husband and their child.

Cameron is the founder and executive director of Gather Together Grow Together, a nonprofit focused on helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency through access to transportation, food, and education. His previous experience includes working as a Navy College Office advisor, consultant for Fleet and Family Services, and adjunct professor at Olympic College. Cameron holds a B.S. in Business Management and a master’s degree in Education from Old Dominion University. He serves on several local boards, including the Bremerton Housing Authority, Salvation Army, Kitsap Regional Library, and the city’s Audit Committee.

Candidate Q&As

Greg Wheeler

What would be your top priorities if elected?

My top priorities are affordable housing, combating homelessness, and increasing access and affordability of healthcare. I believe everyone who lives in Bremerton or wants to live in Bremerton should be able to do so, and have access to affordable housing and local healthcare options. I have taken several steps to address these issues as mayor, and the work is ongoing. Some of these steps include:

● Creating, supporting, and funding the city’s Homelessness Management and Response, Down Payment Assistance, Rental Assistance, Weatherization, and Housing Navigator programs.

● Supporting, funding, and completing Pendleton Place, the first large permanent supportive housing complex for Kitsap County adults who are chronically homeless with severe mental illness.

● Passing a comprehensive plan amendment allowing for more liberal use of temporary housing and supporting accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations, with pre-approved ADU designs for citizen use.

● Rezoning property to develop a workforce housing project for Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS) medical technicians.

● Helping fund nine townhomes in Manette and Kitsap Community Resources’ purchase of the Mills Crossing Complex, creating more affordable housing in the city.

● Paving the way for the return of emergency department and urgent care facilities in East and West Bremerton.

● Creating, supporting, and funding Stand By Me and the mobile healthcare unit, in partnership with PCHS.

● Securing ongoing shelter services at the Salvation Army.

● Adding the first Behavioral Health Program position to the Bremerton Police Department.

● Developing and delivering to council a low-barrier, walk-up shelter plan.

Why should voters choose you over your opponents?

I am uniquely qualified to serve as mayor of Bremerton. No one has ever campaigned for this office with wider experience in Bremerton’s municipal government. Currently serving my second term as mayor, I previously served two terms on the Bremerton City Council, including three years as council president.

I have an educational background focused on matters that directly affect our city, and I have sought additional certificates to be the best mayor I can be. I have an MBA and have managed a 450-employee organization with a $250,000,000 annual budget for seven years.

I have served our country in the US Navy and worked for the largest employer in Bremerton, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. I am a lifelong resident of Bremerton and dedicate my life to its people, making sure Bremertonians’ concerns are heard and addressed on a daily basis. I have visited the homes of over 6,000 Bremertonians so far this campaign, listening to their hopes and concerns for our city.

Bremerton is my heart and home. I was fortunate enough to be raised here and know the positive impact this city can have on its residents. We have made great strides in my first two terms toward making Bremerton the best place to live, work, learn, invest, and play. I want to continue on the progress we have made and continue giving everyone the opportunity to succeed. It is the honor of my life serving as your mayor and I hope to earn your vote again.

Jeff Coughlin

What would be your top priorities if elected?

My top priorities are public safety, attainable housing, and restoring and improving government functions.

We need to fully staff our police and fire departments so our community is safe and protected. Emergency response times matter, and the number of officers and firefighters hasn’t kept up with our growing population. I’ll fight to rebuild and retain those teams while working with the community to strengthen trust, expand neighborhood visibility, and bring back visible bike patrols to work in partnership with the community.

We also need more housing options for working families, seniors, and young people, without losing what makes Bremerton special. I support practical solutions like ADUs, duplexes, and mixed-use development that preserve neighborhood character while creating affordability and walkable communities.

And we must fix the city’s broken permitting process so we can streamline projects and support local businesses. Whether it’s new housing or small business renovations, people shouldn’t be waiting months for answers or stuck in red tape.

Finally, we need to restore accessibility and professionalism to city government. Right now, City Hall is only open 9 a.m. to noon. That’s not acceptable. I’ll restore full business hours and make it easier to navigate city services both online and in person — because government should be a help, not a hurdle.

As mayor, I’ll focus on real outcomes and partner with the community to build a safer, more affordable, and truly thriving Bremerton.

Why should voters choose you over your opponents?

Over the past five years, crime in Bremerton has risen. Housing prices have jumped 50% in seven years. Homelessness is a growing crisis. The incumbent hasn’t tackled the tough issues — I will.

I bring the leadership, professionalism, and experience this moment demands. I served as council president and currently chair the Finance Committee, where I’ve led efforts to improve oversight, rein in the incumbent’s unsustainable spending, and bring greater transparency to how taxpayer dollars are used.

Professionally, I bring real-world leadership experience. I earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics, served as a NASA scientist and director, and managed complex teams and multimillion-dollar budgets as a certified project manager. I know how to solve problems, lead with integrity, and follow through. That experience has taught me how to stay focused on solutions even when the challenges are big and the pressure is high.

I believe in collaboration and clear communication. Whether I’m working with councilmembers, staff, or community members, I bring people together and focus on solving problems, not scoring points.

That’s why every sitting councilmember who has endorsed in this race is endorsing me. I’m also proud to be endorsed by former Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent, several past Bremerton council presidents, the Kitsap County Central Labor Council, Washington Conservation Action, and LGBTQ+ Victory Fund.

I’ll bring a new level of energy, accountability, and professionalism to the mayor’s office — and I’ll fight every day to make Bremerton better, because Bremerton deserves the best.

Marwan Cameron (voters pamphlet statement, candidate didn’t respond to inquiry)

Bremerton stands at a turning point. As we grow, too many residents are left behind—struggling with housing they can’t afford, rising transportation costs, food insecurity, addiction, and limited access to basic resources. We need leadership that sees these challenges clearly and acts boldly.

I’m running for mayor because I believe Bremerton must protect what makes Bremerton special. Instead of following the path of unchecked growth that has priced out families and fractured communities, like Seattle, our children deserve a city where they can ride bikes, walk to school without fear, and can stay in Bremerton and raise their families.

We must prepare for our future by balancing growth with conservation. Meaning creating real pathways to affordable housing, improving access to safe and reliable transportation, leading efforts to develop training and employment opportunities that respond to rapid obsolescence, AI, emerging technologies, and global commerce, and investing in mental, physical health.

I’ve spent years working directly with our most vulnerable neighbors, not just talking about solutions, but delivering them. As mayor, I’ll bring that same focus, urgency, and heart to City Hall. It’s not about politics, it’s about people. Let’s move Bremerton forward, together!

Jeff Coughlin