Hennepin County Sheriff Admits Defeat In Election

MINNEAPOLIS — There's going to be a new sheriff in town. The Hennepin County Canvassing Board certified the results of the sheriff election, and David Hutchinson beat out incumbent Rich Stanek.

“I have congratulated Sheriff-elect David Hutchinson on the results of the race, and the transition is underway,” Stanek said in a statement.

“It is a great honor to serve alongside the dedicated men and women in the Sheriff’s Office, and I look forward to continuing my service to the residents of the county until my term expires.”

County administration and Hutchinson have been in contact regarding the transition, according to a news release. The Sheriff’s Office says its services will remain "seamless" during the transition.

"The agency’s 1,100 personnel and volunteers will continue to serve the counties 1.3 million residents—election results do not change the agency’s fundamental mission of providing the highest level of public safety services, with compassion, dignity, and respect," the office said.

Dave "Hutch" Hutchinson

Metro Transit police sergeant Dave Hutchinson succeeded in unseating Stanek with a little help from Hillary Clinton. Days before the election, former secretary of state endorsed 19 state and local candidates for office across the United States, including Hutch.

DFL-endorsed Hutchinson positioned himself as a candidate of reform, promising to rethink the county's current relationship with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This summer, Stanek was criticized for helping immigration authorities too much. Specifically, his office took heat for its policy of alerting ICE when deputies booked foreign-born inmates, the Star Tribune reported.

The policy hurt trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, opponents said. Several county officials argued the sheriff's office was helping the federal agency do its own job.

However, the Trump administration said the county wasn't doing enough to help ICE.

The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office was established in 1852, and has had 27 Sheriffs. Stanek was first elected as Hennepin County Sheriff in 2006 and he is currently serving his third term as Sheriff.

Photo: Sheriff Richard Stanek of Hennepin county, MN speaks at the Strong Start for America's Children bill introduction at the Capitol Visitor's Center on November 13, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)