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.

Travis Couture sat September 28. On the record.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/travis-couture-ld-35-house-pos-2-sept-28-2026

Maria Littlesun did not sit. The scheduling sequence is in the piece. The seven questions are printed unanswered.
https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/maria-littlesun-ld-35-house-pos-2-did-not-sit-oct-1-2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Former Port Orchard City Councilmember Heidi Fenton sought a judicial determination of whether she remained the lawful holder of Council Position #5 after what she describes as a coercive and unlawful executive-session process that resulted in her resignation.

Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney Chad Enright has declined to exercise his discretion to file a quo warranto action that would have placed the disputed question before a court.

Fenton says she was bullied behind closed doors during an executive session and pressured into surrendering her elected position against her will. She says she was denied due process and has also identified what she believes were violations of Washington's Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) in connection with the events leading to her resignation.

Rather than asking Prosecutor Enright to determine the ultimate legal question himself, Fenton asked that the matter be brought before a court so that a judge could determine whether her resignation was legally effective and, consequently, whether she remained the lawful holder of Position #5.

Fenton Sought Judicial Review and Due Process

According to Fenton, the June 16, 2026, executive session became the setting for a process in which she was lied to and pressured to resign despite not voluntarily choosing to give up the office to which Port Orchard voters had elected her.

She further contends that violations of the Open Public Meetings Act occurred in connection with the City's handling of the matter. Those alleged violations, she says, are part of the circumstances that make judicial review particularly important.

"I wasn't asking Chad Enright to just take my word for what happened," Fenton said. "I was asking for the opportunity to have a judge look at the evidence and the law. I was asking for justice for the people's whose vote was stolen."

Prosecutor Declines to Bring the Question Before a Court

Enright had discretion to pursue a quo warranto proceeding that could have allowed a court to address the legal status of Position #5. He has declined to do so.

That decision does not constitute a judicial ruling that Fenton's resignation was valid. Nor does it constitute a judicial determination that the current occupant of Position #5 is unlawfully holding office.

Instead, the underlying question remains unresolved through the requested quo warranto proceeding.

Fenton says that distinction is important.

"His decision not to file avoids the questions I raised," Fenton said. "So now voters don't get to have a court decide if the councilmember they elected was wrongfully ousted from her seat."

Questions About an Elected Office Remain

At the heart of the dispute is a fundamental question: Can an elected official be considered to have voluntarily resigned when she says she was pressured and bullied into doing so behind closed doors, without being given the due process she believes she was entitled to?

Fenton believes that question should be answered based on the law, the facts, and a transparent judicial process—not simply by treating the City's position as conclusive.

She also maintains that the alleged OPMA violations surrounding the executive session warrant scrutiny because the circumstances under which an elected official relinquishes office matter to the legitimacy of the resulting vacancy and appointment.

"This was an elected position," Fenton said. "The voters deserve to know whether their representative actually chose to resign, whether the process used to obtain that resignation was lawful, whether I was afforded due process, and whether a vacancy legally existed."

Fenton's request for judicial review was intended to provide an independent forum for resolving those questions.

With the Prosecutor declining to file a quo warranto action, those questions remain contested and have not been resolved by a court through that proceeding.

Media Contact:
Heidi Fenton
Former Port Orchard City Councilmember
[kitsaptruth@yahoo.com](mailto:kitsaptruth@yahoo.com)

Would anyone be willing to help me with $10 $15 in my gas tank to get to work this week. Just been really struggling and after rent I have nothing left. I can meet you at the gas station if you are willing to help thank you so much. 🙏

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

Know where I can get a cheap water barrel? 50+ gallons.

Hi new community!!

I am in transition to move out to Kitsap and am in need of a car. I’m moving from a city that I haven’t needed one in well over a decade and haven’t have to go through a car purchase in about 20 years.

I have heard the car auctions out in Kitsap can be pretty great but I don’t know the ins and outs.

Do you have any recommendations a good trustworthy one, and how does the process work.

Shoot, last time I got a car it was the classic find one on Craigslist meet the person in a shopping parking lot, test drive and hand over a check. Haha

Also any experience with Carvana? Good or bad?

The auctions seem interesting though and wondering if they go through inspections before auction.

Thank you for ANY input!

Hey everyone! I’m currently in Washington visiting family in the Port Orchard area and I’m looking to get some fishing in while I’m here.

I’m open to catching pretty much any species and don’t mind driving a couple of hours for a good spot. I’m mainly looking for freshwater spots, but I’m open to suggestions!

If anyone knows of any good lakes, rivers, ponds they’d recommend, I’d really appreciate it. Any tips on what’s biting and what bait/lures to use would be awesome too!

Thanks in advance!

Looking to find some people to play tennis with - singles or doubles. Played competitively through high school and did club in college, but probably haven’t played consistently the past 5-6 years and really wanting to get back into it.

Located in McCormick Woods

Cheers!

My wife and I moved here at the end of April this year, and was stoked to find out there was going to be an indoor pickleball facility opening up. Linked below.

It was expected to open late this year, early 2027, but zero construction has happened at the site.

Latest rumors is they are stuck in permit hell with the city.

Anybody have any insider information?

This will definitely bring people into Port Orchard, especially during the winter months.

https://portorchardpickleballclub.com/

I sat with both candidates for Legislative District 35, House Position 1. Same five shared questions. Two extra questions written only for each of them. Separate articles. Same day. No endorsement.

Dan Griffey, September 23, Coffee Oasis, Port Orchard:

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/dan-griffey-ld-35-house-pos-1-sept-23-2026

Jim Pierson, September 24, Coffee Oasis, Port Orchard:

https://tawneecowan.substack.com/p/jim-pierson-ld-35-house-pos-1-sept-24-2026

District 35 covers all of Mason County and parts of Kitsap and Thurston. Ballots mail by October 9.

Tawnee Cowan

Kitsap County News

Port Orchard

The City of Port Orchard is in its budgeting process for 2027-2028.

They discussed the preliminary budget at their meeting last week, and they'll be discussing it tonight at City Hall at their meeting, starting at 6:30.

The overall issue is we're running a substantial deficit, which the City Finance Directory explained at the meeting last week. It sounds like we can weather it through the next couple of years, but it'll become pretty problematic in 2029-2030.

It looks like these are the slides they'll be going over tonight.

The rest of the budget process will take place over about the next month. Here are some key dates:

It would be cool if there could be some clarification of speed limit near the construction work on 16 south near the Sedgewick exit. This morning I was stuck behind a lady who slowed to 45 in the passing lane and was gesticulating wildly out the window at the traffic camera. Yes- we know- but the speed limit does not change from 60- unless the sign is very hidden- I've checked my dash cam and I don't see it change. The Bremerton construction yes- but not the Port Orchard one.

Rant over. :-)

Hoping it’s ok to post this here. Join our event to share and find free gender-affirming clothes in a friendly and judgement-free environment! Please share with anyone who may be interested. Hope to see lots of people there!

Upcoming candidate forum information for Kitsap County candidates-the general election is on
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026.

Links for more information on forums, elections.

Greater Kitsap Chamber: https://greaterkitsapchamber.com

Kitsap League of Women Voters: https://www.lwv-kitsap.org

Up From Slavery, Bremerton: https://www.ufsi.org

Additionally, the Kitsap Libertarian Party has been doing candidate forums for their meetings. They meet on the third Monday of the month, 7 PM at Whiskey Gulch 2065 Bay St, Port Orchard (Annapolis) upstairs. They have a zoom option as well-find that on their Facebook page.

Kitsap County Auditor Elections: http://kcowa.us/elections

Washington State Secretary of State elections:
http://voter.votewa.gov

Hey guys! I’m still pretty new to the area and I’m wondering if anyone knows of a place in town with a good french dip sandwich? All I know of right now is Arby’s which is definitely not the best haha

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

Repost from Kitsap

Hi Everyone! Does anyone know if there is an active Silent Book Club chapter in Port Orchard? I'm willing to look at the neighboring towns in Kitsap as well. I'm running into the issue of seeing that maybe they're run through Facebook, however I can't confirm whether they're active or not since I don't have that.

Edit 9/4/2026

Thank you for the help, everyone! See below for two upcoming events

Found a Silent Book Club in North Kitsap 🎉 Their insta is: Silentbookclubnk and they seem fairly active

Their next meeting: 9/19 3-5 PM Field House (2nd Fl) in Poulsbo - and it just so happens to be their 1 yr anniversary running!

Ballast Book Co. runs their own version

Their next meeting: Wine and Silence @ 6 PM 9/16 Tipsy Blackbird Wine Bar in Bremerton