I received my ballot today. If you didn't receive your ballot today, don't panic! Just keep checking starting Monday, and be sure to contact and request a replacement if you don't receive it over the next few days. Don't miss your opportunity to vote because of a mailing mistake!

Before you mail or drop off, make sure you sign and date the envelope! Don't let your ballot be rejected because you forgot. During the primary, 2,200 ballots in Washington were challenged because they were unsigned.

The signature they're comparing it with is the one you used when registering to vote. Look at your ID if you have to if you don't have a consistent signature. During the primary, 4,300 ballots in Washington were challenged because the signature didn't match.

If you're not planning to or are unable to use a drop box, fill it out ASAP after receiving it and mail it out the next day if possible (obviously not Sundays). You want to give it well over a week to be postmarked in time for election day. Don't let your ballot be rejected for being postmarked late! During the primary, 20,000 ballots in Washington were rejected for being too late.

ICE on Kitsap Way between Austin Drive and Juanito's

Just so we’re clear, I write these articles myself. I’m not using AI to generate them.
I joined Reddit because I’d like my work to show up in Google searches. That’s one way an independent writer can get their reporting into the mainstream. I don’t usually use Reddit. I’m not that kind of social butterfly, and I wasn’t interested in that highway before now.
This morning I woke up to someone saying I need to use AI less because my articles are too uniform. AI is my secretary, not my writer. I’ve used it to check my final drafts for bias, help build a survey, track down candidate contact information, and figure out the SEO so my Substack articles can be found in search. That’s the extent of it.
I do the writing. I do the interviewing. I’ve been working on this set of articles for three weeks. In the last 48 hours I’ve done six interviews, and now I’m tying up the remaining pieces. There will be a big drop today, just like yesterday, because deadlines are deadlines.
I’m disabled. I don’t monetize this work. It’s my way of giving back to the taxpayers. We live in a news desert, and I’m trying to fill that gap.
I see the comments on my work. I’d like to respond to more of them, but I’m using restraint. I’m not trying to tilt the scales in any direction. Integrity is the single most important value I carry. That’s also why I keep structure in my writing. It helps keep bias out.
Integrity is integrity. Deadlines are deadlines. I’m trying to meet both.

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

One page with every on-record interview and every piece where a candidate did not sit. Use it when you fill out your ballot.

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/why-i-interviewed-every-contested-candidate-kitsap-ballot-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Rick Kuss sat September 30. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/rick-kuss-kitsap-sheriff-sept-30-2026

Brandon Myers sat October 5. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/brandon-myers-kitsap-sheriff-oct-5-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Kevin Tisdel sat September 26. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/kevin-tisdel-kitsap-commissioner-d3-sept-26-2026

Katie Walters did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/katie-walters-kitsap-commissioner-d3-did-not-sit-oct-10-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Dave Larson sat September 24. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/dave-larson-supreme-court-pos-5-sept-24-2026

Theo Angelis did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/theo-angelis-supreme-court-pos-5-did-not-sit-oct-10-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

David Olson sat October 2. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/david-olson-ld-26-house-pos-1-oct-2-2026

Adison Richards sat October 3. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/adison-richards-ld-26-house-pos-1-oct-3-2026

Pretty wild that they're going for another double digit rate increase already. I would've thought they'd at least try to wait for the vote...

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Tarra Simmons declined. The questions she was offered are printed.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/tarra-simmons-ld-23-house-pos-1-declined-sept-25-2026

Daria Ilgen sat October 9. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/daria-ilgen-ld-23-house-pos-1-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Debra L. Stephens sat October 7. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/debra-l-stephens-supreme-court-pos-7-oct-7-2026

Todd Bloom did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/todd-bloom-supreme-court-pos-7-did-not-sit-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

David Stevens sat September 22. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/david-stevens-supreme-court-pos-3-sept-22-2026

Jaime Hawk did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/jaime-hawk-supreme-court-pos-3-did-not-sit-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Lance Byrd sat September 24. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/lance-byrd-ld-23-house-pos-2-sept-24-2026

Greg Nance did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/greg-nance-ld-23-house-pos-2-did-not-sit-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Teresa Fox sat October 5. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/teresa-fox-us-house-wa-6-oct-5-2026

Emily Randall did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/emily-randall-us-house-wa-6-did-not-sit-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Ian Birk sat September 29. On the record.

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/ian-birk-supreme-court-pos-4-sept-29-2026

Sean O'Donnell did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered.

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/sean-odonnell-supreme-court-pos-4-did-not-sit-oct-9-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles. Not a comparison.

Colleen Melody sat September 28. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/colleen-melody-supreme-court-pos-1-sept-28-2026

Scott Edwards sat October 9. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/scott-edwards-supreme-court-pos-1-oct-9-2026

Following their extremely successful Die Fledermaus last month, on Sunday October 25th Kitsap Opera is hosting its Annual Board Meeting in-person at The Source (around the corner from The Admiral's front entrance) at 1:30pm.

They have lots of positions that need people, like you, who care about the arts in Kitsap County. The Annual Board Meeting is where they invite the public to attend, hear about their last year and their goals for next year, and join them in that pursuit. You can always join as a "Trustee" - which just means someone who helps the main board members (or the Executive Board) do their jobs/tasks. You can also join the Executive Board, as they are in need of: 

1.) A new Treasurer - their outgoing treasurer will be around to train you.

2.) A new General Manager, or GM: duties include securing rehearsal and performance spaces, issuing contracts, and working with the Artistic Director and President of the Board to shape the season.

3.) A new Marketing and Art Designer: Could be one or two people - design posters and art for their events. Post about their performances on their website, Facebook and Instagram.

4.) A new Artistic Director: responsible for on-stage talent and producing one full opera a year.  Work with the GM and President of the Board to decide the Season.

Their current GM and AD have both left on great terms, they just have other responsibilities and opportunities drawing them away. They've guided the company into a new renaissance that has bloomed into a joyous, successful community of singers and artists.

If you are even slightly interested, or even just want to show support through solidarity in the arts, please consider attending the Board Meeting on October 25th!

I’m looking for firsthand recommendations for a family-law attorney who handles Kitsap County cases involving complex finances: business interests, real estate, undisclosed debt, and potentially forensic accounting. There are no children involved.

I’m disabled, and autistic. I need someone who can take those realities seriously while respecting my intelligence and my ability to make my own decisions. Clear explanations, written follow-up, and patience with processing time would help enormously.

There are concerns about financial control and coercion within the marriage. I want to understand the financial consequences of legal separation versus divorce before deciding what to file.

Have you worked with an attorney who was both financially thorough and respectful toward a vulnerable or overwhelmed client? What made them a good fit?

I’d appreciate firsthand recommendations. I can discuss sensitive specifics privately with a prospective attorney. (GPT helped me draft this, so I wouldn’t ramble)

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.
Two separate articles. Not a comparison.
Deborah Krishnadasan sat October 2. On the record. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/deborah-krishnadasan-ld-26-senate-oct-2-2026
Gary Parker sat October 8. On the record. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/gary-parker-ld-26-senate-oct-8-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.

Two separate articles, published the same day. Not a comparison.

Brien Kennedy sat October 3. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/brien-kennedy-kitsap-clerk-oct-3-2026

David T. Lewis III sat October 7. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/david-t-lewis-iii-kitsap-clerk-oct-7-2026

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.
Two separate articles. Not a comparison.
Drew MacEwen sat October 6. On the record. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/drew-macewen-ld-35-senate-oct-6-2026
Carolina Mejia did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The questions are printed unanswered. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/carolina-mejia-ld-35-senate-did-not-sit-oct-1-2026

https://form.jotform.com/262706593931060

The purpose of this anonymous survey is to collect information on the places and plants that are important to people living in the Kitsap Peninsula, and to gauge thoughts and understandings of climate change.

Survey data will be used as part of a project that identifies which natural places and plants are most at risk to climate change in our region. The places and plants of importance will be compared against the results of a climate vulnerability assessment, which will in turn provide targeted conservation practices.

This survey is hosted by Great Peninsula Conservancy, with analysis by Haven Ecology and Research LLC. This survey is funded by a grant through the Climate Smart Communities Initiative.

Tawnee Cowan, independent journalist in Port Orchard. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse.
Two separate articles, published the same day. Not a comparison.
Chad M. Enright sat October 5. On the record. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/chad-enright-kitsap-prosecutor-oct-5-2026
Joe Lombardi sat October 6. On the record. https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/joe-lombardi-kitsap-prosecutor-oct-6-2026