Name: Jeff Coughlin
Running for: Mayor of Bremerton, WA
Location: Bremerton, WA
****All Candidates have been endorsed by The Victory Fund******
What are the major issues that are getting you into public service as a politician?
For me, public service has always been about building a Bremerton where every person feels like they belong and has the opportunity to flourish. The issues that first drew me into politics are the same ones I hear from neighbors every day: ensuring housing is affordable, keeping our city safe and welcoming, and revitalizing our downtown so it becomes a vibrant heart of the community.
I live here in Bremerton with my husband, and together we’re raising our 4 year old son. Like any parent, I think a lot about the future he’ll inherit. I want Bremerton to be a city of opportunity, creativity, and inclusion — a place where he can grow up proud of his hometown and confident that it has a place for him, no matter who he becomes.
As someone who would be Bremerton’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayor, I know firsthand the importance of representation. That’s why I stepped forward: because Bremerton deserves leaders who will listen, bring people together, and ensure every voice in our community has a seat at the table.
What is the core of your platform that represents you today?
At the core of my platform is the belief that Bremerton’s future depends on building bridges — between neighborhoods, between people and local government, and between our city’s challenges and the opportunities to solve them. My focus is on three pillars:
- Housing and Affordability: expanding housing options so that families, working people, and seniors can stay here without being priced out.
- Public Safety and Trust: ensuring Bremerton is safe while also fostering accountability, compassion, and prevention.
- Downtown Revitalization and Economic Vitality: investing in downtown — from Quincy Square to local arts and small businesses — so it thrives as a hub of culture, commerce, and community.
These priorities reflect who I am: a collaborator, a problem-solver, and someone who believes inclusive leadership creates stronger communities.
What is the thing you are most proud of achieving thus far, and how will it help you as an elected official?
I’m especially proud of pushing Bremerton toward becoming a safer, more modern city in how we design our streets and infrastructure. Too often in the past, decisions prioritized cars over people. I’ve supported investments in traffic calming, bike and pedestrian improvements, and safer routes to schools and parks — changes that not only save lives but also make our neighborhoods more connected and welcoming.
This matters because the way we build our city reflects the kind of community we want to be. By prioritizing safety, accessibility, and sustainability, we’re building a Bremerton that works for families, seniors, people with disabilities, and kids like my son who will grow up here. As mayor, I’ll carry forward that same vision: designing a city that is safe, inclusive, and built for the future.
What goals are you trying to accomplish?
My goals are rooted in making Bremerton a city that truly works for everyone who calls it home. That means:
- Housing: ensuring people can afford to live here, whether they’re starting out, working to get ahead, or aging in place.
- Safe, Modern Streets: creating safer routes to schools, better bike and pedestrian connections, and calmer traffic in neighborhoods.
- Downtown Revitalization: finishing the work of projects like Quincy Square and fueling a downtown that’s alive with arts, culture, and small business.
- Climate and Sustainability: embracing clean energy, investing in green infrastructure, and preparing our city for a changing climate.
- Inclusive, Transparent Government: building a City Hall that listens, communicates clearly, and brings people into the process.
At the heart of it, my goal is to leave Bremerton stronger, safer, more sustainable, and more vibrant for the next generation.
What are your political ambitions?
I’ve always said I’ll be a scientist long after I’m a politician. Before serving on the City Council, I was a NASA astrophysicist helping to lead the Kepler Mission in the search for new worlds. That experience taught me how to solve complex problems, manage diverse teams, and stay grounded in evidence — skills I now bring to public service.
My ambition isn’t about climbing a political ladder. It’s about serving Bremerton and setting our city up for long-term success. One of my goals is to move Bremerton toward a professional city administrator or city manager model, so that no matter who’s elected, our community has the stable, experienced leadership structure it deserves.
If I can leave office knowing Bremerton is more affordable, more inclusive, more sustainable, and better prepared for the future than when I started, then I’ll consider my political ambitions fulfilled.
Who inspires you to keep fighting even when the battles seem too much?
When the battles feel overwhelming, I think of my mom, who recently passed away. She raised my brother and me as a single working mother, and she showed me every day what resilience, hard work, and compassion look like. Even when times were difficult, she never stopped showing up for us — and her example continues to guide me in public service.
I also draw strength from my own family here in Bremerton — my husband and our 4-year-old son. They remind me that this work isn’t abstract; it’s about building a city where families can flourish and every child can grow up safe, supported, and proud of their hometown.
And as Bremerton’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayoral candidate, I’m inspired by the generations who fought for equality and visibility under far harder circumstances. Their courage makes it impossible to step back, even when the challenges are steep.
Who is your role model from history in public service?
A role model I look to is Frank Kameny. He was an astronomer who lost his federal science job simply for being gay, and instead of retreating, he turned that injustice into a lifelong fight for equality. In 1971, he became the first openly gay candidate for the U.S. Congress, and he dedicated his life to challenging the discriminatory policies that kept LGBTQ+ people out of public service.
What inspires me most about Kameny is how he used his scientific training — persistence, evidence, and logic — to push for social change at a time when few dared to stand openly. His approach reflected the constraints of his era, but he cracked open the door so future generations could walk through more freely and authentically.
As a scientist myself, and as someone who would be Bremerton’s first openly LGBTQ+ mayor, I see myself carrying forward that legacy: using knowledge, persistence, and public service to build a more inclusive and hopeful community.
What advice do you have for the community to help make change happen, beyond voting?
Voting is essential, but real change happens in all the ways we show up for each other between elections. My advice is to get involved locally: attend city council meetings, volunteer with nonprofits, support small businesses and cultural events, and speak up about the issues that matter to you. Local government works best when it hears directly from the community.
Change also comes from building relationships. When neighbors come together — whether to organize around housing, advocate for safer streets, or celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride — those connections create momentum that leaders can’t ignore.
I know from experience that having mentors and role models can make all the difference. While I didn’t have many people step into that role for me in local politics, it has motivated me to step into that role for others. One of the most powerful things we can do is to invest in the next generation — especially LGBTQ+ youth — by showing up, encouraging them, and opening doors. That’s how we build a stronger, more inclusive Bremerton for the future.
