Joshua Vissers/Daily Mining Gazette Freeman at Northwoods Sporting Goods.

HANCOCK — Richard Freeman Jr. is the only name on the ballot for Hancock’s Ward 2 race this year.

“In 2014, I came back to the local area after getting out of the Marine Corps,” Freeman said.

He joined the Marines at age 18, after being raised in Hancock. When he got back, he went to work at Northwoods Sporting Goods, his dad’s store, in Hancock. He got married and now has four sons, and in September of this year took ownership of Northwoods.

Freeman said he cannot wait for the ice to form so he can go ice fishing.

“I consider myself an outdoorsman,” he said. “Not to the extreme, but in moderation.”

He said the idea to run for city council was planted by members of the current council early in the year, and that after considering how important the future of the city was to his business and family, decided on it. 

He said he wants the best for the city and to be a voice for the community. While he’s never been in politics before, he hopes his experience managing the store and his leadership roles in the military will be helpful in his role on the council.

“I got out as an e6, that’s staff sergeant in the Marine Corps,” Freeman said.  “And my last duty station was instructing up to 32 students.”

He’s been attending council meetings and considers himself a quick learner. He’s looking forward to learning in more detail how the council works after the election.

A big goal of his is to get the vacant buildings in downtown Hancock filled, maybe by implementing policies that have worked in other, similar cities.

“There’s an opportunity in Hancock for people,” Freeman said. “We just have to present that opportunity and make it more… intriguing.”

Freeman is opposed to marijuana businesses in Hancock. He thinks the local police are doing an excellent job and would not vote to defund them.

“I will always vote no on defunding any of our law enforcement,” he said.

He wants to keep the city’s budget balanced. He has been attending council meetings concerning the budget, and thinks things are being handled well. 

“We’ve got to keep that up,” he said.