Peter Hutchinson

Who is Peter Hutchinson?

Peter Hutchinson is an American politician, businessman and philanthropy executive from the U.S. state of Minnesota. He ran as the Independence Party of Minnesota candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2006.

Hutchinson was born in Faribault, Minnesota, but moved to Rochester, New York with his family at a young age. He attended Dartmouth College, where he received a bachelor's degree in government and urban studies, then attended Princeton University, where he received a master's degree in public affairs and urban planning.

In 1975, he returned to Minnesota and, in 1977, he was elected Deputy Mayor of Minneapolis in the administration of Mayor Albert Hofstede, serving in that post until 1979. After leaving office, he was hired by the Dayton Hudson Corporation, for which he was Vice President of External Affairs and Chairman of the Dayton Hudson Foundation. As Chairman of the Foundation, he oversaw the distribution of $110 million nationwide for use in community improvement projects.

In 1989, DFL Governor Rudy Perpich appointed Hutchinson the state's Commissioner of Finance.