In 2014, Hansel won the Republican primary as a candidate for Cheshire 8 of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, but lost in the general election to incumbent Democrat Cynthia Chase [de] by 51 votes.[5] In December 2015, he was elected as a member of the KeeneCity Council from ward 5, serving two terms until being elected Mayor.[6] George also serves on several statewide boards and commissions, including The University System Board of Trustees, the New Hampshire Council for Housing Stability, the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility, the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention, and the Governor’s Millennial Advisory Council, [7]
Hansel was first elected as mayor in 2019 by a margin of 52.7% to 47.3%. He beat out Democrat Mitchell Greenwald for Keene’s open mayoral seat after incumbent mayor Kendall Lane chose not to run for reelection. Mayor Lane and former Keene Mayor Dale Pregent both endorsed Hansel in the race.[8] Hansel took 2,586 votes to Greenwald’s 2,312, [9][10] In 2021, Hansel secured a second term as mayor after easily defeating challenger Mark J. Zuchowsk. He won 2,133 votes compared to Zuchowski’s 212, or 91% to 9% of the vote. Each of the city’s five city council wards overwhelmingly supported Hansel, who ran for another two-year term on a platform focused on addressing the region’s housing shortage and continuing the city’s efforts to upgrade its aging infrastructure.[11]
In October 2020, after Keene's city council passed a resolution recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day, Hansel proclaimed the second Monday of October Indigenous Peoples Day in Keene.[12][13]
As mayor, Hansel has supported engaging more citizens in the local government aiming to "increase diversity on city boards and commissions."[14]
On May 1, 2023 Hansel announced that he would not run for a third term as mayor.[15]
Hansel hosts a 2-hour radio show on Saturday mornings on Keene radio station WKBK.[17] He also makes appearances on the station's weekday morning show.
Hansel has been criticized by Robert Burns, fellow candidate for Congress from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, for running a "sanctuary city" as mayor of Keene.[18] This refers to a resolution passed by Keene's city council that declared Keene as a welcoming city for all. The resolution was aspirational and did not impact police policy. Mayor Hansel, a City Councilor at the time, voted against the passing the resolution.[19] Nevertheless, Hansel said he didn't disagree with the resolution's sentiment.[20] Hansel has dismissed Burns' criticism, referring to it as a "distraction".[21]
