KINGSTON – The Kingston Port Commission voted unanimously to select Steve Heacock as its next commissioner.

On March 13, port commissioners Mary McClure and Laura Gronnvoll agreed that Heacock would be the best fit as a replacement for former commissioner Bruce MacIntyre. MacIntyre resigned from the position in late January citing increased hostility resulting from an ongoing public records lawsuit between the port and a Kingston resident.

Port of Kingston Executive Director Jim Pivarnik said that the candidates interviewed for the position were excellent, but Heacock stood out as the best fit for the open commissioner’s chair.

“Their interviews were fabulous and it was a tough decision, it really came down to vision and relationships,” Pivarnik said. “It became pretty clear that he would be an excellent candidate.”

Heacock is currently employed by the Kitsap County Department of Community Development as an environmental planner, something Pivarnik said initially caused him to raise an eyebrow.

“Although I thought it odd at first, having a county employee as a port commissioner; because he’s been a long-term resident of Kingston he really has been able to forge a lot of relationships, not only with the county but with the tribe and the residents,” Pivarnik explained. “He gets the dynamic of the community because he’s been part of it for 20 years. He’s served on the Kingston Citizens Advisory Committee for almost 20 years so he knows all the nuances about the community and that makes him a very valuable person on a commission.”

Pivarnik said the port hopes to have everything finalized before the regular port commission meeting on March 28.

Heacock will serve out the remainder of MacIntyre’s term and will be eligible for re-election in November 2019.

— Nick Twietmeyer is a reporter with Kitsap News Group. Nick can be reached at ntwietmeyer@soundpublishing.com