Hicken first attempted to enter provincial politics in the 1982 election, but was defeated by Progressive Conservative Lowell Johnston.[2] Hicken ran again in 1986, and was elected councillor for the electoral district of 5th Kings.[3] He was re-elected in 1989.[4] On June 6, 1989, Hicken was appointed to the Executive Council of Prince Edward Island as Minister of Energy and Forestry.[5] In November 1991, he was moved to Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs and Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.[1] In January 1993, he was given an additional role as Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs.[1] Hicken was re-elected in the 1993 election,[6] and was appointed Minister of Environmental Resources on April 15.[1] In the 1996 election, Hicken was defeated by Progressive Conservative leader Pat Binns in the new Murray River-Gaspereaux riding.[7]