After reporting on court filings and financial issues involving Demetrice Hicks, we reached out for comment. Here is his full, unedited response:
Abdul,
Good to hear from you. You’ve been writing about this issue for some time. I’m glad you finally came to me to set the record straight.
Like millions of Americans every year, I accumulated credit card debt when I had to put expenses for caring for my dying grandmother on credit cards. Statistics show the average American household carries $11,507 in credit card debt, paying exorbitant interest fees exceeding 22%.
Those debts got away from me during the stress and strain of caring for my grandmother. I had judgments from three credit card companies. I have paid off two in full and the cases were dismissed. I am making payments on the third in good standing.
That is in my personal life, and I have taken accountability and learned from that situation. It has made me more committed to helping Hoosiers who struggle to care for loved ones and afford basic necessities such as medicine, childcare, housing and utilities. I know their struggles and won’t dismiss them like some other politicians who have not had those experiences.
That is completely separate from my professional life. As a member of the Pike Township Board, I voted to expand poor relief, fully funded township services and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget to be a good steward of tax dollars.
Demetrice
