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James Hutchison | |
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Mayor of Dover, Delaware | |
In office May 9, 1994 –May 10, 2004 | |
Preceded by | Aaron O. Knopf |
Succeeded by | Stephen Speed |
Personal details | |
Born | Dover,Delaware,U.S. | June 20,1942
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Cathleen Hutchison |
Children | James Hutchinson Jr. |
Alma mater | Delaware Technical Community College |
James L. "Hutch" Hutchison Sr. (born June 20,1942) is an American politician. Hutchison served as the first full-time Mayor of Dover,Delaware from 1994 to 2004. [1] Hutchison is a member of the Republican Party. [1] However,Dover's mayoral office is officially nonpartisan.
Hutchison,a native of Dover,graduated from Dover High School in 1961. He received an associate's degree in criminal justice from Delaware Technical Community College in 1987. [2]
Hutchison served as the police chief of Dover prior to entering politics. He held Dover's at-large city council seat from 1993 to 1994. [1]
In 1994,Hutchison was elected Dover's first full-time mayor. He retired from office in 2004. [1]
In 2008,Hutchinson ran for the Delaware Senate in the 17th District,but lost the election to Democrat Brian Bushweller. [1]
In January 2011,Hutchison announced his candidacy for an open seat in the Dover City Council,which was being vacated by retiring City Council President Ken Hogan. [2] Hutchison won the City Council District 1 seat in the municipal election held on April 19,2011,defeating Holly Malone. [3]
In August 2011,Hutchison proposed lengthening the terms for the mayor and city council members from the current two-year term to four-years in office. Hutchison argued that the current election system,in which Dover's candidates must seek re-election every two years,is too expensive,costing the city approximately $10,000 per election. He told council that his proposal would save the city money and promote increased leadership among Dover's elected officials. Under his proposal,if enacted,the new four-year terms would be gradually phased in over a two-year period. [4]