Jill Hicks is a resident of Lewes.
A few years ago, my husband, Bill Hicks, and I watched from our backyard in the Chapel Green community, as developers destroyed a forest and wetlands to construct a massive new development project.
What I learned then was that, even with “protections” in place, Sussex County Council left bulldozer-size loopholes that offered no protection for the environment and provided inadequate infrastructure and workforce housing.
Since that experience, I have worked to bring commonsense changes to control the sprawl, to push workforce housing options and to protect our unique and fragile environment.
Now, I’ve decided to take the next step: I am running for a seat on County Council from District 5, which includes Georgetown and Millsboro. We are home to teachers, nurses, skilled construction workers and retail and restaurant workers — many of whom struggle with inadequate roads just to get to work. We need to have infrastructure — schools, roads, fire and police personnel — that keeps pace with the needs of our population.
The 2026 County Council election is critical. Council will be considering land use changes that will affect our lives over the next decade. It requires council members who are committed to change. I am such a person.
Some of you may know me as the president of the Sussex Preservation Coalition. This is a group I co-founded with Jane Gruenebaum, before she joined council last year, and grew into a 4,000-member organization. Recently, County Council appointed me to the Sussex County Land Use Reform Working Group, which recommended 20 major actions council should take to better align the county’s growth with services and infrastructure. Now, I’d like to use the know-how I’ve acquired to engage even more meaningfully, with a seat at the table for the changes council will be working on.
I have an extensive business background as a Wawa executive, so I know what it takes for our economy to thrive. After retiring from Wawa, I had a second career as a music teacher. I understand the importance of public education and how uncontrolled growth can impact the classroom.
We can all look around and see what County Council has allowed in the last 10 years. I know it’s time for a meaningful change. I hope voters will agree that it’s time for a fresh perspective and a new voice for District 5.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
