 He was chosen to serve as president of the commission and was the first African American to be the leader of the board.In 1971, Hicks was elected to the General Assembly from District 14B encompassing Paterson and West Paterson.In 1973, he was reelected to the Assembly in the new 35th Legislative District (encompassing Paterson, North Haledon and Hawthorne) alongside Democrat Vincent O. Pellecchia.