Editor’s note: Since this race was covered before the primary election, Kitsap News Group is running candidate statements from the voters pamphlet rather than asking them the same questions as before.

Voters in Bremerton will decide who the city’s next mayor will be in the upcoming Nov. 4 general election, choosing between incumbent Greg Wheeler and city councilmember Jeff Coughlin.

The seat is a four-year term, beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Wheeler is currently serving his second term as Bremerton’s mayor. Before being mayor, 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 BS 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.

Below are each candidate’s statement from the voters pamphlet.

Wheeler: As your mayor, my sole focus is making Bremerton the best place to live, work, invest, learn, and play. Our administration has implemented 30+ initiatives that give everyone the opportunity to thrive, balancing our budget and improving city services.

We created down payment, homelessness management and response, housing navigator, rental assistance, streets & sidewalks, weatherization, and workforce diversity & inclusion programs. We added a mobile healthcare unit, Salvation Army shelter services, MultiCare Emergency Department, Kitsap Way medical center, medical respite center, and Pendleton Place.

We built Quincy Square, revitalized Wheaton Way and Charleston business districts, rezoned Harrison Heights, created the Small Business Development Center, funded the Mills Crossing complex, and added ADU pre-approved designs and more living wage jobs. We cleaned up Kitsap Lake and nuisance properties, and improved eight parks. We added body cam, fire safety, and navigator programs. We built the Manette Bridge roundabout, modernized 11th Street, increased sewer capacity, expanded fast ferry service, and returned Sunday bus and two-car ferry service.

Let’s build on our accomplishments and expand opportunities for families and businesses. I will continue representing your interests and leading Bremerton into a prosperous future. Visit reelectgregwheeler.com/ourfuture for more. I ask for your vote.

Coughlin: I’m running for mayor because I believe in Bremerton and its people. Our city is full of promise, but faces real challenges: public safety, soaring costs, homelessness, struggling small businesses, and much more.

Over four years, crime has surged — over 10 times the statewide rate. We need more officers walking and biking our neighborhoods, engaging our communities, and serving as partners in public safety — building trust and addressing issues before they escalate. Small businesses are hurting — they need safe streets, fixed ferries, and reliable permitting to start up and stay open.

In seven years, housing costs have risen 50% — pricing out working families, seniors, and young people. I’ll champion a mix of housing types and secure state support to prioritize affordability while protecting green space and neighborhood character. Homelessness is a growing crisis — Bremerton is just one-sixth of Kitsap, yet shoulders over half the county’s unhoused. I’ll partner across Kitsap for lasting solutions so people get the help they need and Bremerton doesn’t go it alone.

I’m endorsed by many current and former elected officials, community leaders, and organizations who live in, serve, and represent Bremerton. I humbly ask for your vote — and your partnership — in bridging a brighter Bremerton.