Louis Mentor kicked off his campaign for Mayor of Bremerton on May 4, in the historic Elks Lodge Room located in the Max Hale Center in downtown Bremerton.

Tim Ryan and Bonnie McDade are co-chairing his election bid to regain the post he held from 1990 through 1993.

Mentor says he is actively running this year because he wants to help bring back the pride and progress made toward the vision of a more vital city with the programs and projects started during his first tenure.

Born and raised in Kitsap County, Mentor said. “My heart and soul are here. We worked hard to develop a feeling of pride and enthusiasm for Bremerton. We had national attention, with people coming from throughout the country to see how Bremerton was changing. It has been very disappointing to lose that momentum during the last few years.”

Under Mentor’s leadership, many significant projects were undertaken, including the downtown waterfront Boardwalk. He also claims credit for initiating the Bremerton Gateway, the 4th Street redesign, the second 18 holes at the Gold Mountain Municipal Golf Course and the Pendergast Regional Sports Complex.

Mentor also points to the annexation of the business and industrial areas of Kitsap Way and Auto Center as accomplishments of his administration during the early ‘90s, and notes how they continue to bring millions of dollars into Bremerton’s coffers.

He also cites the Blackberry Festival started in 1990, which brings 50,000 plus people each year to Bremerton as an accomplishment as well as the establishment of new programs to reduce crime such as Crimestoppers, Safe Streets and West Net (gang, drug task force). Christmas in April was also started in 1991 and continues to help low income citizens fix up their homes.

Mentor says, “The good of Bremerton is what we have to keep at heart. I have a deep passion for our city and Bremerton must come first. During those four years, we changed completely the attitude in Bremerton and about Bremerton. We brought a new pride to our city and a new hope for the future. I want to return the pride, the hope and the enthusiasm to Bremerton.”

Call (360) 782.0155 for more information.