Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler will be facing at least one opponent in this year’s election cycle as he and City Councilmember Jeff Coughlin announced this week their intentions to run for the position.

Wheeler has served as mayor since 2017, being elected twice. He previously served eight years on the council. A Bremerton native, Wheeler is a Navy veteran, and retiree from the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard engineering department.

“Bremerton is my heart and home,” a statement from Wheeler says. “With the support of a great team at the city, we have created positive changes that will benefit Bremerton for generations to come. I look forward to sustaining this work and supporting our community through my continued service as mayor.”

Coughlin has served on council for the last four years, including one year as president. He previously served on the city’s planning commission. He is also an astrophysicist and certified project management professional, and has worked as a director for NASA and the SETI Institute, a news release states.

“After nearly eight years of Greg Wheeler as mayor, we are less safe, downtown still isn’t thriving, housing costs are out of control, and the homeless crisis has gotten worse, not better,” Coughlin says in a statement.

May 9 is the final day for candidates to file for the 2025 Kitsap County election cycle.