Doug Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Doug Hutchinson is the mayor of the city of Fort Collins, Colorado
and the leader of Fort Collins' seven-member city council in a town with a council-manager form of government.
and raised in Fort Collins, Hutchinson graduated from Fort Collins High School
and attended Colorado Technical University
, earning a bachelor's degree in physical science in 1965. After graduation, Hutchinson served for over twenty years in the United States Air Force
. During his time in the Air Force, he earned a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California
in 1976. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel
in 1989 and then worked as a civilian Department of Defense
employee before retiring to Fort Collins in 1999. Hutchinson is married; he and his wife, Cathy, have three children and seven grandchildren.
. Hutchinson ran for mayor in 2005, defeating city council member Bill Bertschy, Libertarian Mark Brophy, and high-school teacher Scott VanTatenhove. During his campaign, he was the beneficiary of support from the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce in their first endeavor supporting local candidates. The Chamber of Commerce again endorsed Hutchinson during his 2007 campaign for re-election.
Part of a "pro-business" conservative ideological majority during his first two years leading Fort Collins City Council, Hutchinson has expressed a personal desire to maintain balance between economic development and environmental protection. During his first term as mayor, Hutchinson introduced a new city budgeting process, and touted a healing of personal rifts between council members under his leadership. While mayor, he has also been named to the Executive Board of the Colorado Municipal League, and as a director of the Colorado Climate Project.
In April 2007 municipal elections, Hutchinson again faced high school teacher Scott VanTatenhove for a second two-year term as mayor., winning re-election overwhelmingly, but facing leadership of a council which saw a shift to a more "progressive" majority.
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
and the leader of Fort Collins' seven-member city council in a town with a council-manager form of government.
Early life and career
Born in Billings, MontanaBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
and raised in Fort Collins, Hutchinson graduated from Fort Collins High School
Fort Collins High School
Fort Collins High School, located at 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, Colorado, is one of four public senior high schools in the Poudre School District. Its school colors are purple and gold and the mascot is a lambkin. The school serves approximately 1,800 students and has a staff of about 130...
and attended Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University is a for-profit university in the United States. Founded in 1965, CTU offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in a number of subjects, focused primarily in the business, management, and technology disciplines...
, earning a bachelor's degree in physical science in 1965. After graduation, Hutchinson served for over twenty years in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. During his time in the Air Force, he earned a master's degree in systems management from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1976. He retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
in 1989 and then worked as a civilian Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
employee before retiring to Fort Collins in 1999. Hutchinson is married; he and his wife, Cathy, have three children and seven grandchildren.
Mayor of Fort Collins
After returning to Fort Collins, Hutchinson became involved in politics, and wrote a column on local government for the Fort Collins ColoradoanFort Collins Coloradoan
The Coloradoan is a daily newspaper in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Coloradoan's website is updated throughout the day with breaking news and video coverage of community news. A portion of the paper's newsroom serves as Northern Newsroom for 9News....
. Hutchinson ran for mayor in 2005, defeating city council member Bill Bertschy, Libertarian Mark Brophy, and high-school teacher Scott VanTatenhove. During his campaign, he was the beneficiary of support from the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce in their first endeavor supporting local candidates. The Chamber of Commerce again endorsed Hutchinson during his 2007 campaign for re-election.
Part of a "pro-business" conservative ideological majority during his first two years leading Fort Collins City Council, Hutchinson has expressed a personal desire to maintain balance between economic development and environmental protection. During his first term as mayor, Hutchinson introduced a new city budgeting process, and touted a healing of personal rifts between council members under his leadership. While mayor, he has also been named to the Executive Board of the Colorado Municipal League, and as a director of the Colorado Climate Project.
In April 2007 municipal elections, Hutchinson again faced high school teacher Scott VanTatenhove for a second two-year term as mayor., winning re-election overwhelmingly, but facing leadership of a council which saw a shift to a more "progressive" majority.