Kitsap County Clerk · August 4, 2026 Democratic Primary
BrienKennedy
For Kitsap County Clerk
The Clerk manages court records, jury duty, passports, and is the primary point of contact most Kitsap residents will ever have with the justice system.
Unopposed races must stop.
Our county deserves more than foregone conclusions before the votes are even cast.
Most people in our county have never heard of this office. They've voted for it without knowing it.
The people who work in this office show up every day and do meaningful work - processing cases, certifying passports, supporting people through some of the hardest moments of their lives. That work deserves better leadership than it's had. I'm not here to tear anything down. I'm here to build on what's working and fix what isn't.
Brien Kennedy · Candidate for Kitsap County Clerk
Meet Brien
In My Own Words
Who I am, where I came from, and why the numbers matter. No script. No teleprompter. Just me.
Introduction
Who I Am
Personal Story
Where I Came From
Fiscal Accountability
The $16.2M Problem
Running a startup and running a government office have more in common than people think.
Both are about doing more with less. Making decisions with incomplete information. Being accountable for the outcome. The private sector just punishes you faster when you get it wrong. I've spent a career building organizations that had to earn every dollar they spent. That instinct doesn't turn off when you walk into a government building. It's exactly what this office needs.
The Candidate
$2B+Businesses Grown & Sold
$30M+Avg Monthly Budget Managed
5High-Growth Startups Built Past First Dollar
10+Years Executive Leadership
The Office Right Now
5Years the Incumbent Ran Unopposed
0Competitive Countywide Elections Won by the Current Incumbent
$16.2MProjected County Shortfall by 2031*
This is only the 3rd contested Clerk race in 28 years. Most people in our county have voted for this office multiple times - without ever having a real choice. In 2014, the last contested race, voters had a real choice for the first time in 16 years.
*Kitsap County 2026 Budget Forecast - if no action is taken
What Changes On Day One
Three Things. One Term.
Not everything gets fixed in a single term. A lot of what shapes this office is out of any one leader's control. But an agile executive with a fresh perspective can bring ideas this office has never had - and our county deserves that kind of energy. The best leaders hold the mission and find the creative path forward. Here's where I start.
01
Audit the Budget. Build Leaner Operations.
I've built organizations that had to justify every dollar before they spent it. I'm bringing that same standard here. A full audit of office operations - what we spend, what it produces, where we can do better. I'll take those findings to the people who can act on them. Kitsap deserves a leader who knows how to have that conversation. Our tax dollars should work harder.
02
Rebuild the Resources. Modernize the Experience.
Residents who have called our office have told us they struggle to find what they need - and when the stakes are as high as custody of a child or avoiding jail time, we can do better. I will build plain-language guides, video walkthroughs, and digital tools that actually prepare people for their day in court. This costs nothing. It requires only the will to do it.
Zero cost initiative
03
Make This Office Impossible to Ignore.
I'm your neighbor. I'm here, in our community - supporting local businesses, showing up to local events, and trying to affect real change in a place I love. I believe this office can be a shining example of what local government looks like when someone actually shows up for it. I want to be available - on this site, in monthly Q&A sessions, through public reporting on our budget and operations. Thirty-nine counties in Washington state. Ours should set the standard.
These aren't promises - they're a checklist. Check back after the election to track progress.
About This Campaign
I've bootstrapped businesses with little to no money. We're doing the same thing here.
This campaign is self-funded. We're not beholden to anyone - no PACs, no donors, no favors to return. If you want to help, the best thing you can do is talk to your neighbors. And if you want to canvass or volunteer, send me a note directly.
Shannon is the Operations Director at The Island School on Bainbridge Island - the community she's called home her entire life.
She and Brien are both the first in their families to graduate from college. They've been celebrating firsts ever since - and running for office together is just the latest one.
Bainbridge Island, WA · Campaign Treasurer
Official Campaign Mascots
Mila & Lucy.
Sisters from different litters. Fully committed to the cause - mostly because Brien keeps the treats in his campaign budget.
They don't know what a County Clerk is. They're still the most popular members of the campaign.
Mila (left) · Lucy (right)
Stay in the Loop
Connect With Brien
Monthly updates, office hours invites, and what we're finding as this campaign builds. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Ballots drop the week of July 14 · Make sure you're registered at VoteWA.gov
✓ You're on the list. We'll be in touch before ballots drop.
