Commissioners

Mary McClure

Photo by Marvin Robles

marymc@portofkingston.org

District 2. Term: 2022-2027 

Chair

Mary McClure began serving as Port Commissioner, District 2, in January 2016. She brings a strong professional knowledge base built on 45 years’ experience providing consulting services and business solutions for both private companies and public projects. Her experience spans cities throughout the nation, Puget Sound, and especially Kitsap County, with focus on the intersection of economic and community development. As a professional facilitator, she brings a passion for building relationships that promote open communication and respectful dialogue within the community. Through a wide variety of projects, including serving 15+ years as Executive Director of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council, Mary has gotten to know Kitsap’s communities and what good government looks like.

Close to home, she has been active in many Kingston volunteer projects. She co-founded and now co-manages the Kingston Farmer’s Market, and serves as Board President for the Village Green Foundation. Mary is a long-time Kingston resident, having lived on Apple Tree Cove since 1989. A recreational boater for over 30 years, Mary and her husband Jimmy James raised their children on Apple Tree Cove and the waters of the surrounding Puget Sound. Her fond memories of watching her children’s futures take shape here inspire her to seek out opportunities for Kingston’s economic future so that other families may build their own wonderful memories for many years to come.

Mary’s central goal is to see strong, balanced Port Leadership and to strengthen the Port’s role in exploring economic development opportunities throughout the community. She wants to promote coordination among government agencies so that Kingston enjoys the full range of services that we deserve. Fundamentally, Mary believes that government exists to serve the people.

LAURA GRONNVOLL

Photo by Marvin Robles

laurag@portofkingston.org

District 3. Term: 2018-2023

Vice Chair

Laura Gronnvoll began serving as Port Commissioner, District 3 in January 2018 when she was elected to a six year term. Laura’s family has lived in Kingston for over 40 years and her and her husband   Sverre, have raised their three children here. Marine services have always played a major role in their  lives. When Laura met her husband, he was working at a propeller repair shop; and now one of their sons, Erik, owns a propeller repair shop in Kingston. “We are here to stay,” said Gronnvoll.

In addition  to her duties as a Port Commissioner, Laura works at the local law office of Roberts & Bryan as a legal assistant. “I know Kingston is changing and there are a lot of different opinions about the nature and desirability of those changes,” she said. “But we all love this town and I encourage everyone to take part in the conversation in a positive way.”

Steve Heacock

Photo by Marvin Robles

steveh@portofkingston.org

District 1 Term: 2020-2026

Secretary

Steve and his family moved to Kingston in 1998, taken by the maritime-charm and the surrounding rural character.  He was appointed to serve as Port Commissioner for District 1 in 2018 by Port Commissioners and elected to a six-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2020.

Steve is an Environmental Planner, Geologist and Natural Resource Specialist with over 28-years of experience providing planning and project implementation assistance, writing grants and developing program budgets, developing public outreach and education programs, and providing complex shoreline, environmental and land use project permitting expertise.

“The Port of Kingston has accomplished much in the past few years to provide economic growth to the POK constituents. Our recent accomplishments include a long-term contract with Kitsap Transit to provide passenger-only service to Seattle. We are working to solve the through-town traffic dilemma, partnering with State and Kitsap County agencies to find a short-term fix and long-term holding lane solution to the current tally slip system. We have a world-class Port and Marina facility and are developing a work plan to maintain all Port facilities.  As a defined urban growth area, Kingston is going to see many more residential and business developments. I believe Kingston’s downtown business core needs to keep its maritime charm and character and that future development should be balanced with the natural environment and regional rural character.  My long-term goals include working with agencies, Tribes, fishermen, farmers, and citizens to provide a better nexus to economic revitalization within the Port boundary.”