James Hutchison (American politician)

James L. "Hutch" Hutchison Sr. (born about 1942) is an American politician. Hutchison served as the first full-time Mayor of Dover, Delaware, from 1994 to 2004. Hutchison is a member of the Republican Party. 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.

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.

In 1994, Hutchison was elected Dover's first full-time mayor. He was sworn into office on May 9, 1994, following the end of Mayor Aaron Knopf's term. He retired from office on May 10, 2004, when he was succeeded by Stephen Speed.

Hutchinson ran for the Delaware Senate in the 17th District in 2008, but lost the election to Democrat Brian Bushweller.

Hutchison announced his candidacy for an open seat in the Dover City Council in January 2011. He ran for the open 1st city council district seat, which was being vacated by retiring City Council President Ken Hogan. Hutchison won the seat in the Dover municipal election held on April 19, 2011, defeating Holly Malone.

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.