Meet the candidates for Village of Hancock Board in the April 1st election

This year in the Village of Hancock, there are two Board Trustee positions open on the ballot, with the two-year terms of Sarah Semrow and Jim Hamilton coming to an end. The position of Village President is also available, as the current president, Larry Monroe, is retiring. Hamilton will be a candidate for Village President, opposing a newcomer, Patrick Steele. Semrow is not seeking re-election. There are three candidates for the two open trustee positions: Dave Kujawa, Jillian Steele, and Liz Thrun.
Except Hamilton, all candidates are newcomers to the political scene in Hancock, a welcome change according to the local residents who attended a Hancock “Town Hall Meet & Greet,” organized by Mr. Steele, held on March 8. The group of residents who attended shot question after question at all candidates, after introductions. The meeting ended with a chance to converse informally with each of the candidates.
The main topic, on which all of the candidates agree, is the need for open communication and transparency from the municipal leaders to the constituents. Too much information has been swept under the rug and the residents are insisting on being well-informed in matters concerning all who live in not only the Village, but the surrounding townships as well.
Concerns were brought up to the candidates about the current financial difficulties within the municipality. When asked about an open investigation, Hamilton responded: “Not at this point. We wanted to get through our mess before we went ahead. We are watching our costs very closely to make sure we have our day to day finances to go by.”
All candidates were asked the following questions:

Q: Tell us about yourself and what makes you uniquely qualified as a Village Board member.
Liz Thrun: “I am a newcomer to the Village Board ballot, but I am a lifelong resident of Hancock. I have been directly involved in multiple organizations and committees, including the Hancock Citizens Committee, Fire Department Board, Lions Club, and Labor Day Celebration Committee, working with their budgets and handling money for those organizations.”
Jim Hamilton: “I’ve been a trustee for the past 6 years and it’s hard for any one person to get anything done. I thought with Larry (Monroe) retiring I would have a little more influence. We have a lot of things to work on.”
Patrick Steele: “As a resident of Hancock since 2022, I’ve come to know many of the wonderful people in the Village. I’ve heard their concerns and even though I’m young at 35 years old, I feel that youth will help in being able to oversee a long-term plan to revitalize Hancock.”
Jillian Steele: “I have actively participated in various committees, clubs, and fundraisers. My background as a Real Estate Agent has allowed me to experience small business ownership, which requires discipline and dedication - qualities I possess. I have been a committed member of the Hancock Citizens' Committee and the local community. With the Committee’s support, we successfully replaced the Hancock highway (I39) sign last year, and initiatives like this are what I aim to pursue to revitalize our town and enhance its appeal for both visitors and residents.”
Dave Kujawa: “I am 64 years old, retired, and a licensed, insured contractor. I’ve built several homes and lived in Hancock for many years. I have been trained and worked with civil engineers and contractors and worked as a carpenter for the facilities at Sentry Insurance for all their local buildings. If I don’t know something, I find the answers and the truth of a situation.”
Q: What would your top priorities be?
Liz Thrun: “Better communication with the public.”
Jim Hamilton: “Better communication is one thing, better Board communication. I think it is a very important thing to listen to the public.”
Patrick Steele: “My top priority would be better communication between the Board and the citizens of Hancock. We must find a way to drive public engagement. One such way would be to live stream Board meetings and create a media catalog so people who are unable to attend can watch on their time.”
Jillian Steele: “As a Trustee, my primary focus would be to improve communication between the village and its residents. I believe this can be achieved through a new website and a stronger social media presence, along with a thorough review and possible revisions of the Village ordinances.”
Dave Kujawa: Find out what happened to the missing money. Have an investigation. Help the Board make good decisions on what to do to help fix our village and get out of debt. Open communication and transparency with village residents. Hold town hall meetings. I want to help the board make good decisions based on facts, not hearsay. ”
Q: Tell us about your vision for Hancock in 5-10 years.
Patrick Steele: “We need to develop a revitalization plan that will far outlast us in a village board. I hope that within 5-10 years, we will have made Hancock more inviting to potential residents and businesses alike. Step one in doing so would be to enforce blight laws and promote the proper upkeep of homes and businesses. We need to have a plan to deal with the dilapidated buildings around town and find a way to promote their restoration or removal. As citizens, we need to take pride in our community and welcome change with open arms.”
Jillian Steele: “In envisioning Hancock in the next 5-10 years, I picture a revitalized downtown area, with old buildings removed and new ones flourishing. Although this will require time and collective effort, I am confident that together we can bring this vision to life.”
Dave Kujawa: “Hancock will be a good place to live and also a good business place. Have a framework of procedures and rules in place for the next leaders of the community to follow. People will want to visit our village.”
Voters are encouraged to get out to the polls on Tuesday, April 1st.