2026 Candidates
Jill Hicks: Committed to Change as She Seeks Sussex County Council Seat
Few people bring a stronger commitment to positive change or better qualifications for the Sussex County Council than Jill Hicks, candidate for the District 5 seat serving Georgetown and Millsboro.
Like many of us, Hicks has watched the transformation of Sussex County—not always for the better. But Hicks is doing something about it. She is challenging District 5 incumbent John L. Rieley, a councilman since 2018, a period that parallels the rapid, uncontrolled growth across Sussex County.
“County Council will soon be making decisions on planning and land use which will affect our lives for the next 10 years,” Hicks said upon filing for office. “It’s vital to have a council member committed to change. I am committed to bringing common-sense solutions and affordability priorities to the council.”
The Save Our Sussex PAC recommends Hicks to voters because she pledges to:
- Promote livable and affordable communities
- Drive responsible, smart land-use decisions
- Ensure infrastructure keeps pace with development
- Protect our environment, natural resources, farmland, and open space
- Support public education and emergency services
Her track record shows she has the skills to deliver. Growing up in rural Chester County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by dairy farms, Hicks earned a music degree from Penn State. However, a summer job at Wawa launched her first corporate career. She worked her way up from store clerk to store manager, real estate manager, and ultimately corporate director for procurement, marketing, and supply chain IT.
When tragedy struck and her eldest daughter died in a car accident at age 20, Hicks turned her grief into service. She retired from corporate life and returned to classroom teaching, sharing her love of music with elementary and middle school students.
In 2022, living in Chapel Green off Conleys Chapel Road, Hicks and her husband, Bill, watched as developers clearcut 110 acres of woodlands and wetlands next door to build 315 homes—despite overwhelming community opposition. That controversial project galvanized public concern over uncontrolled growth. In response, Hicks co-founded the Sussex Preservation Coalition, which has grown to 4,000 members. Recognizing her leadership, the County Council appointed her to the Land Use Task Force in 2025, where she helped craft 20 key recommendations for the 2028 Comprehensive Plan rewrite.
Jill Hicks has consistently been at the forefront of pushing for land-use changes that benefit Sussex residents, not special interests. She will put Sussex County citizens first. Learn more about Jill at ElectJillHicks.com.
Paid for by Save Our Sussex PAC