u/tawneecowan

I’m Tawnee Cowan, an independent journalist in Port Orchard. I write Kitsap County News on Substack and I run the Facebook group Port Orchard Politics. I do not represent a newsroom. I do not endorse candidates.

I sat both candidates for Kitsap County Assessor. Same five shared questions. Two questions written for each person. Separate articles, published the same morning. Quote-check is spelling and transcription, not a veto.

Phil Cook, incumbent, September 25, Port Orchard library:
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/phil-cook-kitsap-assessor-sept-25-2026

Michael Simonds, September 29, same library:
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/michael-simonds-kitsap-assessor-sept-29-2026

Series explainer:
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/kitsap-candidate-interviews-nov-2026-on-record

Libertarian Party of Kitsap hosted Brandon Myers and Rick Kuss on Monday. Prepared questions. Same clock for both. I recorded it and wrote up where they differed on taxes, where each stood alone, where they agreed, and the 15 questions with answers.

No endorsement. Compare it to the record before Nov. 3.

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/kitsap-sheriff-debate-recap-sept-14-2026-myers-kuss

Port Orchard City Council filled the contested Position Five seat on August 6 after Councilmember Shirah Dedman recused herself over a formal grievance against the city attorney.

The appointment of Tiffiny Mitchell followed two nights of candidate interviews, an executive session, and public reports that the selection had already been expected. The underlying vacancy remains disputed, as former Councilmember Heidi Fenton maintains she did not resign.

Full reporting on the contested process, Dedman recusal, interview concerns, and pre-selection reports (free to read):

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/council-fills-contested-position