John Hutchings
Former Tenino Police Chief John “Hutch” Hutchings is running for Thurston County Commissioner in District 1.
Since last April or May, several Thurston County residents have approached Hutchings encouraging him to run for the Thurston County Commission, he said.
He hadn't give it much thought, but when Thurston County District 1 Commissioner Cathy Wolfe announced her retirement, more people encouraged him to run, and he decided to think it over.
Wolfe's work on mental health over the years seemed like something he could continue, Hutchings said. The last 15 years of his law enforcement career involved training officers to work with people with mental illnesses.
"I thought, that's kind of a natural progression," he said.
Qualifications
Hutchings has 35 years experience working as a police officer, supervisor and chief. He spent 27 years in the Olympia Police Department before retiring in 2012.
He was charged with creating the Olympia police downtown walking patrol and brought numerous groups together to address downtown social issues, and was the drug court’s liaison with the police department, according to a press release.
Since 2001, he coordinated the training of hundreds of police officers in crisis intervention and de-escalation of people suffering from mental illnesses, the release states.
In 2011, he co-authored a book on Crisis Intervention Training with a mental health professional from Shoreline.
Hutchings earned a bachelor’s degree from the Evergreen State College and a Master of Arts from Chapman University. He is a former Fulbright scholar.
He has volunteered with Community Youth Services and has served on the board of TOGETHER!.
Hutchings was most recently chief of the Tenino Police Department. He was fired by then-mayor Bret Brodersen last March.
Community members took the streets to protest Hutchings' termination and many expressed displeasure with the decision in following council meetings.
In April, after demands for Brodersen to resign, the council issued a 3-2 vote of no confidence.
Brodersen said he had no intention of resigning and would continue his search for a new police chief. Brodersen was defeated by challenger Wayne Fournier in November.
Hutchings filed a defamation lawsuit against Brodersen and the city of Tenino last October. The lawsuit does not specify an amount.
The target of the suit is a press release issued in March by Brodersen explaining his reasoning for Hutchings’ termination. According to the complaint, “the statements were published with knowledge of their falsehood and/or with reckless disregard for the truth.”
Hutchings also filed a tort claim last June seeking $850,000 for "special and general damages."
Community Health
Hutchings said he believes the entire county's community health needs to be looked at. Community health encompasses public safety issues, such as the safety of its roads and bridges, he said. It also means providing adequate access to mental health resources, providing resources for people suffering from chemical dependency, tackling problems facing youth, and implementing innovative justice measures, he said.
One issue that shouldn't be political, he said, is ensuring the county's environmental health.
"I don't see that as a left- or right-driven issue," he said. "I see it as a human issue. We need to restore and protect our lakes and waterways and habitat."
Regional economic development would be another priority for Hutchings if he is elected. The county needs to work with its regional partners, such as the Port of Olympia and neighboring counties, to ensure there is managed growth between habitat and economic survival, he said.
Hutchings said he's still studying whether it’s possible to balance environmental and economic goals, or if the state or federal government is making that impossible.
"I'm unable to determine whether the state, or whether the federal government is driving this, pushing this agenda on Thurston County. … As I dig deeper into it, the more I'll formulate a more steadfast opinion on it," he said.
An Independent
Hutchings said he will run as an independent.
"I've made very political decisions in my career, but I've never been a politician," he said. "I see that there's a political component to every decision that's made, no matter what business you're in, and there are issues in the Democratic and Republican party I equally like or dislike. So for me it's not about politics or party, it's about people and policy. It's about making the right decision on the specific issue at the right time that's best for everybody. I don't just go right down any one party line. I'm not beholden to a party."
Hutchings has proven leadership in various law enforcement roles, and has made some profoundly critical decisions throughout his career, he said.
"I have proven to have grace under fire, and I'm not afraid to make tough decisions when they need to be made," he said. "I hold myself exceptionally accountable and responsible for what I do and what I say. But this is more than about just education and experience. It's about character and integrity, and I have shown the integrity and character to stand up, but also to be exceptionally collaborative and forming a long-lasting, sustainable relationship with people, groups, organizations and communities."
Hutchings said he looks forward to being an elected official who represents the people. His whole career has been about service to others, he said.
"After 35 years of being in public service, it's another way I can serve the people in a completely different capacity," he said.
