MARYSVILLE – State Sen. John McCoy of Tulalip will be the grand marshal of the Strawberry Festival Parade. “This is huge for Marysville,” said Dina Sekste, parade chairwoman. McCoy said March 31 that he is glad to do it.

“I was very surprised at being asked, thus I am very honored,” he said in an email.

McCoy said he has been involved in the event over the years.

“I have participated by walking with my campaign, attended some meetings and watched more than I can count,” he said, adding he would love for the Tulalip Tribes to be more involved in the Strawberry Festival overall.

The 36th District Democrat represents the Marysville, Tulalip and Everett communities and neighborhoods of Snohomish County. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2003, McCoy was appointed to the Senate in November 2013. He is the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee. He also serves on the Government Operations and the Trade & Economic Development committees. After serving in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years, McCoy retired in 1981 with extensive training in computer operations and programming. He worked as a computer technician in the White House from 1982-85. He then went on to management in the private sector, continuing his career in computer operations. He returned to his home state almost two decades ago to help bring the Tulalip community into the digital world. McCoy has been instrumental in leading the development of what is now the Quil Ceda Village Business Park. He advanced to the position of general manager at Quil Ceda in 2000, and he retired from the business park a few years ago. He and his wife, Jeannie, make their home in Tulalip. They have three daughters, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.