Results have come in for Kitsap County races in the Nov. 4 general election, with a mix of incumbents and newcomers being elected, and some races that are still too close to call.

Deb Krishnadasan is leading Michelle Caldier for 26th District State Senator, levies for the Bainbridge Island School District and Bainbridge Island Fire Department were easily passing, Greg Wheeler has been voted in for a third term as Bremerton Mayor, and longtime city councilmember Ed Stern has been elected as the new Poulsbo Mayor. Additionally, Bainbridge Island City Councilmember Joe Deets has been voted out of his seat.

The lone statewide resolution on the ballot this year, Senate Joint Resolution 8201, is passing at over 57%, which would allow money in Washington’s long-term care fund to be invested. This amendment would allow the state fund dedicated to providing long-term care benefits for eligible seniors and people with disabilities to be invested as authorized by law.

Voter turnout in Kitsap so far is just over 43%, with 87,507 ballots received as of Nov. 13. The election will be certified Nov. 25.

Levies

Levy proposals for the Bainbridge Island School District and Bainbridge Island Fire Department are both passing. The school levy is passing at nearly 70% while the fire levy received over 73% approval.

Passage of Proposition 1 would authorize BISD to supplement its existing enrichment and operations levy to pay for school operations and educational programs not fully funded by the state. The proposition enables BISD to take advantage of a recent change in state law that increases the district’s allowable enrichment levy amount, per the voters pamphlet. BISD would use the supplemental levy funds to pay for teaching, instructional support, school supplies, athletics and extracurricular activities, operational support, transportation, and other school programs.

The levy would authorize collection of supplemental annual excess property taxes of $1,103,828 in 2026, $1,572,896 in 2027, and $2,002,902 in 2028. Based on projected assessed valuation information, BISD estimates supplemental excess property tax rates of $0.08 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2026, $0.11 in 2027, and $0.13 in 2028.

BIFD is proposing a six-year property tax levy lid lift for fire protection and emergency medical services. The proposition authorizes the department to restore its regular real property tax levy rate to $0.72 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2025 for collection in 2026 and allows BIFD to keep up with inflation by authorizing annual increases of the greater of the statutory limit factor or 100% of the first-half to first-half Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metropolitan area as reported in the levy year for the five following years subject to otherwise applicable statutory limitations, the voters pamphlet says.

Due to the statutory 1% limitation on property taxes, the fire district’s current levy rate is approximately $0.57. The maximum regular levy rate for fire districts is $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

“Your fire district board of commissioners has determined that this proposition is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, firefighter staffing, equipment and facilities in light of rising costs and increasing service demands. Approval of this measure will maintain the level of emergency services currently provided. The dollar amount assessed in 2030 for collection in 2031 shall serve as the fire department’s tax levy base and absent further voter approval, the tax levy will then be subject to the statutory 1% limit,” the voters pamphlet states.

State Senator

Deb Krishnadasan (D) is leading Michelle Caldier (R) 53% to 47% in the 26th District State Senator race. The 26th District covers parts of Central and South Kitsap.

Krishnadasan was appointed to the position in December of 2024, following the resignation of Emily Randall after she was elected to Congress. Caldier is currently a state representative for the 26th District. The winner will serve the remainder of the term through 2026, when the position will be up for grabs again for a full four-year term.

Mayor races

Two mayoral races were held in Kitsap – one in Bremerton and one in Poulsbo. Both are four-year terms.

Incumbent Greg Wheeler is leading Bremerton City Councilmember Jeff Coughlin 55% to 45%, while Poulsbo City Councilmember Ed Stern is leading Dan Weedin 60% to 40%. Stern replaces longtime Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson, who is retiring at the end of this year.

City Council

Many city council seats were up for grabs across Kitsap County. All terms are four years unless otherwise noted.

In Bremerton, Christy Cammarata is leading Michael Simonds 57% to 43% for the District 3 seat. Incumbent Jeff Coughlin ran for mayor but lost. Rick Tift is leading Matthew Baptiste-Cerra 69% to 31% for the District 7 seat. Incumbent Eric Younger did not seek re-election. Other councilmembers running unopposed were Jennifer Chamberlin and Michael Goodnow, who were both re-elected.

On Bainbridge Island, there were three contested races for city council. Incumbent Joe Deets is trailing Lara Lant 57% to 43% for the District 7 seat. Incumbent Clarence Moriwaki is leading Peter Raffa 64% to 36% and Mike Nelson is leading Sarah Blossom 51% to 49%. Incumbent Jon Quitslund did not seek re-election.

In Poulsbo, Michael Fitpatrick is leading Kevin Sheen 58% to 42% for the Position 5 seat. Incumbent Ed Stern has been elected as the new Poulsbo Mayor. Running unopposed were Councilmembers Gary McVey and Doug Taber, who were both re-elected.

In Port Orchard, there are two contested races for city council. Jay Rosapepe is leading Kimberly Shaw 52% to 48% for the At-Large seat, a two-year term. Incumbent John Morissey ran unopposed and was elected to the Position 2 seat, which is the seat Rosapape currently holds. Incumbent Fred Chang is losing to Shirah Dedman 54% to 46% for the Position 6 seat. Incumbent Scott Diener ran unopposed for the Position 3 seat and was re-elected.

School Board

There are also numerous school board races across Kitsap County. All terms are four years unless otherwise noted.

In Bremerton, Shannon Turner is leading Jenny Farley 56% to 43% for the Position 4 seat. Incumbent Alysson Rotter is not seeking re-election. For the Position 5 seat, appointed director Ben Anderson is leading Linda Osborn Simpson 54% to 46%.

For Central Kitsap, incumbent Denise Tracy is leading Robin Martin 63% to 37% for the District 1 seat. For District 5, incumbent Eric Greene is leading Darin Veach 55% to 45%. Mark Gaines, who was recently appointed, ran unopposed for the District 2 seat, a two-year term, and was elected.

In North Kitsap, Debra Strawhun is barely leading Leighton Thomas 50.42% to 49.58% for the District 1 seat. Appointed director Edward Wright did not seek re-election. For District 3, former Kingston High School principal Miranda Smallwood was leading Timothy Rovik 69% to 31%. Incumbent Breane Martinez did not file for re-election.

On Bainbridge Island, Erika Borg, who recently resigned but whose name still appeared on the ballot, received 7,236 votes in the unopposed race for the District 3 seat. She previously said she would resign again if elected. Robert Drury, who was appointed to the District 3 seat following Borg’s resignation, received write-in votes. It is expected that the BISD will reappoint Drury for a two-year term and he would have to run again in 2027. Jill Anderson, who was appointed to the District 5 seat in March, ran unopposed and was elected.

For South Kitsap, incumbent Brian Pickard ran unopposed for the District 3 seat and Andrew Brandon, who was appointed in 2024, also ran unopposed for the District 4 seat. Both were elected.

Other contested races (I means incumbent; terms are four years unless otherwise noted)

Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District, Commissioner Position 1 (6-year term): Rachel Pritchett (62%), Melissa Timme (38%)

Bremerton Municipal Court Judge: Tom Weaver (51%), Steve King (49%)

Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Commissioner Position 4 (6-year term): David Fergus (63%), Christie Scheffer (37%)

South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Commissioner Position 2 (6-year term): Terry Lerma (51%), Dusty Wiley (I) (49%),

South Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Commissioner Position 5 (6-year term): Chad Stanley (56%), Paul Golnik (I) (44%)

Port of Brownsville, Commissioner District 2 (2-year term): Fred A Perkins IV (58%), Paul Brumm (42%)

Port of Manchester, Commissioner Position 2: Alexis Pappas (56%), Paul Drotz (44%)

Port of Silverdale, Commissioner District 1 (6-year term): Caleb Reese (I) (59%), Marcus Hoffman (41%)

Fireworks advisory measure

The city of Poulsbo also put an advisory measure on the ballot regarding whether residents recommend the city pass an ordinance to ban the sale, possession and discharge of consumer fireworks at all times within city limits, with over 64% voting in favor of it.

The vote is advisory only, and the council will not be legally bound by its results, per documents. The council will consider the results of the advisory proposition when determining what action, if any, should be taken regarding regulating the sale, possession, and discharge of consumer fireworks in Poulsbo. It would not affect properly licensed and permitted public displays of fireworks.