A Profile of Hastings Mayor Paul Hicks by Jordan Engel

SOURCE: HASTINGS HAPPENINGS

By Jordan Engel, HastingsHappenings.com correspondent

Paul Hicks is a father, a Vikings, Gophers, and a Twins fan, loves to hang around friends and family, and is the Mayor of Hastings, Minnesota.

Mayor Paul Hicks first got interested in politics when he was nine years old and started watching the national news. On the news that year was the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Presidential election. He was “mortified” when he found out that Robert Kennedy had been assassinated that year as well. He also loved how the presidents and other political leaders were chosen. 1968 was the year that Hicks decided he wanted to be in government.

When asked what his favorite things about being mayor are, Hicks replied with, “I really enjoy working with fellow citizens and neighbors and trying to make our lives better in our city. It is a pleasure to be working with such talented colleagues on the city council and with city staff.”

He also likes working on big city projects like the new bridge and the economic development. Hicks also visits the schools to educate them on role of city government.

“The city provides such vital services to our residents in police, fire protection and ambulance service, provide clean water and managing it, maintaining and plowing our streets, great parks and facilities for recreation. Our quality of life depends on it.”

Hicks was elected to city council in 1990. He ran for mayor in 2006. That is also the year he campaigned for Hastings to get a new bridge. Not only a new bridge, but better economic developments, continued fiscal responsibilities and improved communications with the people. “I believe that we are seeing successes in all those areas and that was the reason I chose to run for re-election last year.”

As the Mayor of Hastings, Paul Hicks is the “spokesman” of the city, meaning he usually speaks to the media about what’s happening in the city. He often goes to community events and government entities such as school board meetings. “One important role of the Mayor is to chair the Council meetings and provide leadership at those meetings.  As Mayor, I am required to sign numerous official documents on behalf of the city.”

Not only is Paul Hicks the Mayor of Hastings, but he is also the father of Danielle, his 12-year-old daughter. He is very interested in history, mainly the Civil War.

“I love doing a lot of reading of the Civil War period.” Hicks also enjoys going to Vikings, Gopher, and Twins games throughout the year. He travels, plays golf, and goes fishing at his brother’s cabin. If you’re lucky you may even be able to get him to sing some karaoke for you.

“One of my favorite things is to have a nice dinner with a glass of wine with friends and family around the table and discuss the topics of the day,” he said.

Now you know the many roles that Paul Hicks has as the Mayor. You also learned that he is a father, a sports fan, and a karaoke singer.