Hutchinson wants to show respect toward groups that feel excluded and bring them into the conversation. “I agree that black lives matter,” he says. “They [community groups including BLM] deserve a voice and deserve to be heard.”
If elected, Hutchinson may have one advantage when it comes to drawing in the diverse groups that make up Hennepin County: his own identity as a gay man. He doesn’t fold his sexuality into his pitch, which remains focused on policing and basic issues of justice—but he also doesn’t hide it. He mentions his husband, Justin, within the first few minutes of our conversation, and when I ask him later about the impact of his sexuality on his politics, he grows reflective. “I understand what it’s like to be not in the majority,” but he adds he has also learned that people turn out to be pretty accepting of differences, once they get to know you. “I was outed a few years ago when [someone] sent pictures of Justin and I getting married to all these old cops. Everyone was completely cool. Most cops are great people who don’t give a crap as long as you do your job.”
“As sheriff it shouldn’t matter. It will matter to some,” he admits, but the core issue for him is that he has learned to treat everyone the same. As Hutchinson says, “If you’re a person in Hennepin County, you shouldn’t be treated any differently because of who you love, what you look like, where you’re born, who you pray to, whether you have disabilities or not. Hennepin County, we’re a community. We’re better together”