Kevin Hessel
My role at The Ark
Kevin directs The Ark's journalistic mission and its coverage of Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry.
Background
Kevin is the executive editor of The Ark. He joined the paper in June 2011 and took co-ownership in June 2023. He came from the Marin Independent Journal, where he began as an intern in 1998 and left as assistant copy desk editor, design chief and online editor. He previously was a teen columnist for the Dana Point Times, wrote for his high school newspaper, was the editor of the Saddleback College Lariat newspaper and Inkslinger magazine, studied journalism at San Francisco State University, trained in newsroom leadership at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., was a Knight Digital Media Center fellow at the University of California at Berkeley and guest lectures in newspaper design at S.F. State. Kevin lives in San Francisco with his wife and The Ark's office dog, Luh-Loyd.
Our standards
Ark journalists avoid conflicts of interest, refuse gifts, favors, free travel and special treatment, and correct information throughout the life of a story. Read The Ark’s ethics policy and corrections policy.
Latest from Kevin
Elward leads Assembly race; billionaire tax trails statewide
Jackie Elward led Eric Lucan for the peninsula’s Assembly seat in early Nov. 3 returns, while Proposition 40’s billionaire tax trailed statewide and in Tiburon and Belvedere.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Teacher-backed challengers ahead in Tam Union board race’s first count
Valerie Wynn, Brian Sutherland and Joy Scully Koo led the Tamalpais Union High School District board race in preliminary Nov. 3 returns, with President Cynthia Roenisch fifth.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Belvedere’s Lava House lots are listed for $30 million
The four vacant Belvedere Avenue lots where Jerry Ganz spent two decades fighting to build, known as the Lava House site, are for sale as one package for $30 million.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Golden Gate ferries back on schedule after four boats are sidelined
Golden Gate Ferry resumed regular Tiburon service Nov. 2 after an engine failure and three boats in dry dock put most weekday trips on buses for two weeks.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Tiburon, Belvedere, Strawberry voters are weighing eight local contests, four local measures
Five candidates for three Tiburon Town Council seats and four for three Reed Union board seats head the peninsula’s Nov. 3 ballot, with six other races and four measures.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Reed Union schools to develop age-based framework for screens, AI
Reed Union School District board members questioned student screen time Oct. 13; a framework setting age-appropriate limits on devices and AI comes to the board in February.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Developer agrees to pay Strawberry neighbors $100,000 to end senior-housing suit
Spirit Living Group will pay Tiburon Ridge Neighbors $100,000 to end their suit over its shelved Strawberry senior-housing complex; it remains free to apply again.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Belvedere considers water-filled flood barriers as El Niño threat grows
Belvedere may line San Rafael Avenue and Beach Road with water-filled flood barriers this winter as forecasters warn a very strong El Niño could bring flooding.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Resident group says Belvedere issued Mallard Pointe permits prematurely
Belvedere Residents for Intelligent Growth has appealed Mallard Pointe bulkhead permits; the City Council will hear the appeal Nov. 9, and work continues meanwhile.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Assembly Democrats Lucan, Elward agree on policy, spar over outside money
Assembly candidates Eric Lucan and Jackie Elward agreed on most policy at a Sept. 30 forum but sparred over millions in outside money in the 12th District race.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
State Senate candidates Connolly, Gibbs clash over taxes, housing, homelessness
State Senate candidates Damon Connolly and Tief Gibbs split over Marin’s childcare tax, homelessness and a statewide tax measure, but both vowed to rein in state housing laws.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
The Caviar Co. will close Tiburon’s Main Street tasting room Oct. 18 after five years
The Caviar Co. will close its Main Street tasting room in Tiburon after service Oct. 18; local delivery and online orders continue.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Tam Union board member Kevin Saavedra resigns day after restraining order, stays on ballot
Tamalpais Union High School District board member Kevin Saavedra resigned Oct. 9, a day after a judge’s restraining order, but stays on the Nov. 3 ballot.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Ex-SFPD sergeant kills wife, a former deputy chief, and daughter in Strawberry murder-suicide
A retired San Francisco police sergeant shot and killed his wife, a former deputy chief, and their 24-year-old daughter in Strawberry, then himself, the Sheriff’s Office said.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Tamalpais Union board hopefuls split over trust, budget at forum
Seven candidates for three Tamalpais Union High School District board seats split over whether the board has lost community trust, at a Sept. 28 forum in Larkspur.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Open governor’s race, billionaire tax top California ballot
Peninsula ballots carry an open California governor’s race, 14 state propositions including a one-time billionaire tax, and an open Assembly seat.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Tiburon financier Mark Hanf pleads guilty in Pacific Private Money fraud
Tiburon resident Mark Hanf and his former chief operating officer pleaded guilty in the Pacific Private Money fraud and agreed to at least $71.8 million in restitution.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Demolition of Belvedere’s Mallard Pointe gets green light
Crews are mobilizing to demolish Belvedere’s 22 Mallard Pointe apartments after an Oct. 1 permit, but one tenant remains and a silt-curtain dispute could stall part of the work.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
Three fire agencies drill at Belvedere's Mallard Pointe complex through Oct. 12
Firefighters from Tiburon Fire, Southern Marin Fire and Marin County Fire are training at the Mallard Pointe apartments through Oct. 12 before demolition.
By KEVIN HESSEL ·Tonight at 7 p.m.: Tiburon Town Council candidates forum
The Ark is hosting a forum with the Tiburon Town Council candidates, moderated by the League of Women Voters of Marin. Watch live on Instagram: @thearknewspaper
By KEVIN HESSEL ·
