# Hennepin County's Sheriff and County Attorney *Separately elected county offices in Hennepin County, Minnesota, that the county board does not appoint.* Hennepin County's [[sheriff]] and [[county attorney]] are filled by separate election in Hennepin County, [[Minnesota]].[^1] The county's seven commissioners are elected by district to four-year nonpartisan terms. The board appoints the [[medical examiner]], the auditor-treasurer and the recorder, but it does not appoint the sheriff or the county attorney.[^1][^2] The sheriff's office was tested between December 2021 and February 2022. Sheriff David Hutchinson crashed a government-issued SUV on December 8, 2021 and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree DWI on December 16, 2021.[^3] On January 7, 2022, according to the Star Tribune, five of the seven commissioners called for his resignation, and "the board has no authority to remove him from office."[^4] On February 2, 2022, Hutchinson announced that he would not seek re-election. He said: "I refuse to be pushed out of my role as sheriff by political figures with alternative motives."[^5] The record documents the board's reported lack of removal authority in that episode. It does not establish what other mechanisms, if any, could have removed the officeholder.[^4] ## Who The two offices are the sheriff and the county attorney of Hennepin County. Voters elect both officials separately from the county board.[^1] David Hutchinson was the sheriff during the December 2021 crash and the events that followed.[^3] Seven commissioners make up the county board.[^1] ## When On December 8, 2021, at about 2:30 a.m., Hutchinson crashed his government-issued SUV, reportedly at about 120 mph. Reports said he was unbelted and had a blood alcohol content of 0.13. He pleaded guilty to fourth-degree DWI on December 16, 2021.[^3] Five of the seven commissioners called for his resignation on January 7, 2022, as the Star Tribune reported.[^4] He announced on February 2, 2022 that he would not seek re-election.[^5] ## Where The crash took place on I-94 near Alexandria. Hutchinson entered his guilty plea in Douglas County.[^3] ## How Board appointment covers the medical examiner, the auditor-treasurer and the recorder. Separate election covers the sheriff and the county attorney.[^1][^2] In the 2022 episode, the commissioners' only reported action was a public call for resignation. The Star Tribune reported that the board had no authority to remove the sheriff.[^4] ## How much Hutchinson agreed to pay Hennepin County $47,000 for the squad vehicle wrecked in the crash.[^6] KARE 11 reported his sentence as 90 days stayed, a $610 fine, and two years of probation with chemical-assessment and abstinence conditions. The plea date is firm, but the reachable sources do not state the formal sentencing date.[^7] ## How many The county board has seven commissioners, each elected by district.[^1] One local account puts each commissioner district at roughly 180,000 to 185,000 residents.[^8] On January 7, 2022, five of the seven commissioners called for the sheriff's resignation, as reported by the Star Tribune.[^4] ## In the at-issue record The project's at-issue item [[At issue 054 - Hennepin County's Sheriff and County Attorney are separately]] contrasts the two separately elected offices with the three board-appointed ones. It observes that the sheriff and county attorney, which hold arrest and charging power, are the offices outside the board's appointing authority.[^1][^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### When - December 8, 2021: Hutchinson crashed a government-issued SUV on I-94 near Alexandria.[^3] - December 16, 2021: Hutchinson pleaded guilty to fourth-degree DWI in Douglas County.[^3] - January 7, 2022: five of seven commissioners called for his resignation, per the Star Tribune.[^4] - February 2, 2022: Hutchinson announced he would not seek re-election.[^5] ## Notes [^1]: Ballotpedia, *Government of Hennepin County, Minnesota* — seven commissioners elected by district to four-year nonpartisan terms; sheriff and county attorney separately elected; medical examiner, auditor-treasurer and recorder board-appointed. https://ballotpedia.org/Government_of_Hennepin_County,_Minnesota [^2]: Wikipedia, *Hennepin County, Minnesota* — county government structure: separately elected sheriff and county attorney; board-appointed medical examiner, auditor-treasurer and recorder. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hennepin_County,_Minnesota [^3]: FOX 9, *Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson pleads guilty in drunk driving crash* (December 2021) — crash on I-94 near Alexandria about 2:30 a.m. on December 8, 2021, reportedly at about 120 mph, unbelted, BAC 0.13; guilty plea to fourth-degree DWI on December 16, 2021 in Douglas County. https://www.fox9.com/news/hennepin-county-sheriff-dave-hutchinson-pleads-guilty-in-drunk-driving-crash [^4]: Star Tribune, *Majority of Hennepin County board calls for Sheriff David Hutchinson to resign* (January 7, 2022) — five of seven commissioners called for resignation; "the board has no authority to remove him from office." https://www.startribune.com/majority-of-hennepin-county-board-calls-for-sheriff-david-hutchinson-to-resign/600133601 [^5]: Axios Twin Cities, *Hennepin County Sheriff Dave Hutchinson won't seek reelection* (February 2, 2022) — announcement that he would not seek re-election, with the quoted statement. https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2022/02/02/hennepin-county-sheriff-dave-hutchinson-wont-seek-reelection [^6]: CBS News Minnesota, *Sheriff Hutchinson agrees to pay Hennepin County $47K for squad car wrecked in DWI crash* — agreement to pay $47,000 for the wrecked vehicle. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/sheriff-hutchinson-agrees-to-pay-hennepin-county-47k-for-squad-car-wrecked-in-dwi-crash/ [^7]: KARE 11, *Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson sentenced for DWI* — sentence of 90 days stayed, $610 fine, two years probation with chemical-assessment and abstinence conditions. https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/hennepin-county-sheriff-david-hutchinson-sentenced-dwi/89-b3d2d774-7b63-4738-ac52-3b261b2a1653 [^8]: Hill and Lake Press, *Demystifying Hennepin County: what commissioners actually do* — commissioner districts of roughly 180,000–185,000 residents. https://hillandlakepress.org/demystifying-hennepin-county-what-commissioners-actually-do