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Stanek congratulates Hutchinson, doesn't concede

Hennepin Sheriff Stanek said he congratulates opponent, but later his campaign said Stanek hasn't conceded the election yet to Dave "Hutch" Hutchinson.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek is congratulating Dave Hutchinson on the results of the election, but his campaign says he is not officially conceding.

On Tuesday morning the Hennepin County Canvassing Board met and certified the results of local races, including the sheriff's election. The board upheld the outcome from last Tuesday's midterm elections, making the results the official tally.

So, barring a recount that changes the outcome, Metro Transit Police Sgt. Dave "Hutch" Hutchinson is the county's new law enforcement leader. He said Tuesday his transition team is up and running, and he's ready to take over the office Stanek has held since 2007.

"We’re going to make sure everybody in the administration has the same focus I have, which is to keep the people of Hennepin County safe," Sheriff-elect Hutchinson told KARE.

"I don’t care if they were on Stanek’s team before now, but we’re going to sit down with everybody and make sure we’re on the same page so we can serve the community the best."

Defeated incumbent Rich Stanek's public information officer sent a statement to the media early Thursday afternoon, saying that Stanek had contacted Hutchinson shortly after the election results were certified and wished him the best.

“I have congratulated Sheriff-elect David Hutchinson on the results of the race, and the transition is underway,” read the statement attributed to Sheriff Stanek on department letterhead.

“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.”

For all intents and purposes, it appeared to be a concession. But that's apparently not the case.

Later in the afternoon Tuesday, Stanek's campaign gave a statement to KARE 11 that seemed to contradict the original message.

"The Sheriff did not concede today, but did acknowledge the results of the canvasing board, and he continues to review the data and is looking at all options, these things are not mutually exclusive."

The statement said that the Stanek campaign and the sheriff's office are "acting independently in this matter." Of course, to do otherwise would violate the law. That's why there's typically a firewall between government staff and people in the campaign organization.

Hutchinson said he wasn't fixated on whether Stanek conceded or not.

"We’re on track to take over come the 8th of January and that’s what we’re focused on. We’re not focused on other people’s actions," Hutchinson remarked.

The vote count certified by the canvassing board left Stanek and Hutchinson 2,340 votes apart, or 0.44 percent of the 529,804 votes cast in that race. It would take a margin 0.25 percent -- or one-fourth of one percent -- to trigger an automatic, taxpayer-funded recount.

Stanek has seven days, or until Nov. 20, to decide whether to pay for a recount.

According to Hennepin County Elections Administrator Ginny Gelms the charge for hand recount in a countywide race such as this would be $95,000.

Stanek spent 30 years with the Minneapolis Police Dept., rising through the ranks to precinct commander before he took a leave to run for sheriff. He has the option of returning to the Minneapolis Police. A department spokesperson said Stanek would be able to return at the rank of lieutenant.

Stanek also represented Maple Grove in the Minnesota Legislature from 1995 to 2003. In 2003,

He left the legislature in 2003 after being appointed public safety commissioner by then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty. After a year at that post, Stanek stepped down voluntarily after taking heat over allegations of racial slurs brought up in a 1989 lawsuit.

The canvassing board looks at the results from each precinct to make sure they match the totals that were transmitted on Election Day.

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