Kitsap Sun staff

Bremerton City Councilman Greg Wheeler's lead over incumbent Patty Lent in the city's mayor's race widened in the latest ballot counts on Wednesday.

Wheeler now holds a 609-vote lead over Lent, with 55 percent of the vote to Lent's 45 percent.

Lent did not provide a comment to the Kitsap Sun by press time on Wednesday.

The Kitsap County Elections Office finished another count of ballots on Wednesday, with candidates who were ahead in the initial count of ballots Tuesday races mostly increasing their leads. More than 42,000 ballots had been counted as of Wednesday afternoon, according to the Kitsap County Auditor's Office. An estimated 18,000 remain to be counted.

Among those continuing to celebrate an election victory were supporters of Kitsap Regional Library, which successfully passed an eight-cent levy increase beginning in 2018.

With the levy passed, patrons can expect the library system to roll out several “quick wins,” Library Director Jill Jean said.

One imminent improvement that came out of talks with the community is a drive-through book drop at the Sylvan Way library in East Bremerton. The drive-through, an aid to elderly and disabled patrons or families with carloads of kids, was to be installed on Wednesday.

Placing Microsoft Office on publicly accessible computers is something people have been clamoring for, Jean said. Patrons will see that before the end of 2017.

KRL will add staffing to expand popular youth services, such as after-school STEM classes, likely early in 2018. The Silverdale branch will get a new teen librarian.

Restoration of Sunday hours at branches will take a little longer to roll out, Jean said. Patrons can expect that by March or April.

Staff members will see a cost-of-living pay increase, having had just a 1 percent increase in 11 years.

City council races

In the Bremerton City Council races, incumbent Pat Sullivan was victorious, along with newcomer Kevin Gorman, who held a commanding lead over former councilman and fellow Perry Avenue resident Adam Brockus for the District 3 seat, which covers downtown and Manette. City planning commissioner Michael Goodnow was besting newcomer Melissa Kinzer for the District 5 seat representing the Charleston area.

Wheeler's win means the Bremerton City Council must appoint a new member in January to serve the remainder of his term in the District 4 seat, which covers Union Hill between Olympic College and the shipyard.

In Port Orchard, incumbent Clancy Donlin was defeated by challenger Jay Rosapepe, the South Kitsap School District transportation director. Incumbent Fred Chang defeated challenger Maureen Wheeler.

Bainbridge Island’s City Council will have three new faces in the new year. Rasham Nassar was on her way to unseating incumbent councilman Wayne Roth, while Matt Tirman and Joe Deets held leads in the South and North ward races, respectively.

Poulsbo seat remains vacant

While the Poulsbo mayor's race had a definitive outcome on Tuesday night — with incumbent Becky Erickson trouncing challenger Ricky Moon — who will fill the seat left vacant by retiring Councilman Jim Henry will remain a question for a while longer.

As of Wednesday, John Bukowsky, the lone candidate running to fill Henry’s seat, had drawn 88 percent of early votes even though he had dropped out of the race in the months leading up to the election. Late write-in campaigns launched by Poulsbo residents Abby Garland and Bill Mash drew just 140 votes combined, to Bukowsky’s 1,012.

The city has begun to set up a process to fill the office if Bukowsky does not take it. Without a valid candidate, the City Council would recruit and appoint a candidate. Candidates for the office would be interviewed ahead of one being selected and sworn in Jan. 10, according to a draft proposal for the appointment process from the city.

School board races

While incumbents retained their seats in most school board races, longtime South Kitsap school board member Chris Lemke was defeated in his race by challenger Elizabeth Sebren.

Lemke said he shares many of the same views as Sebren and is comfortable seeing her take his seat.

“We felt we weren’t so much opponents but two people who loved South Kitsap School District and wanted to move the district forward,” Lemke said. “I’m sad because I wanted to continue to do the job one more time.”

In December, he will have completed 12 years of service in the school board.

Josh Farley, Chris Henry, Nathan Pilling and Kimberly Rubenstein contributed to this report.

Election results

KRL levy lid lift

Yes: 63 percent

No: 37 percent

Bremerton mayor

Greg Wheeler: 55 percent

Patty Lent: 45 percent

Bremerton Council District 1

Pat Sullivan: 57 percent

Suzanne Griffith: 42 percent

Bremerton Council District 3

Kevin Gorman: 63 percent

Adam Brockus: 37 percent

Bremerton Council District 5

Michael Goodnow: 60 percent

Melissa Kinzer: 40 percent

Port of Bremerton District 3

Axel Strakeljahn: 52 percent

Robert Perkins: 48 percent

Port Orchard Council Position 6

Fred Chang: 63 percent

Maureen Wheeler: 37 percent

Port Orchard Council At-Large

Jay Rosapepe: 72 percent

Clancy Donlin: 28 percent

Poulsbo Mayor

Becky Erickson: 86 percent

Ricky Moon: 14 percent

Bainbridge Island Council South Ward

Matthew Tirman: 58 percent

Ted Jones: 42 percent

Bainbridge Island Council Central Ward

Rasham Nassar: 57 percent

Wayne Roth: 43 percent

Bainbridge Island Council North Ward

Joe Deets: 65 percent

Kevin Fetterly: 35 percent

Bainbridge Island School Board District 5

Sheila Jakubik: 57 percent

Christina Wakefield: 43 percent

Bainbridge Island School Board District 2

Mike Spence: 83 percent

Judith McLaughlin: 17 percent

North Kitsap School Board District 1

Rick Eckert: 60 percent

DaronJagodzinske: 40 percent

North Kitsap School Board District 3

Beth Worthington: 57 percent

Richard Lockwood: 43 percent

Central Kitsap School Board District 5

Eric Greene: 63 percent

Jason Skifstad: 37 percent

South Kitsap School Board District 3

Elizabeth Sebren: 55 percent

Christopher Lemke: 44 percent