Retired business leader seeks council seat

Roger Stearns’ decision to run for Seat 4 on the Hutchinson City Council wasn’t necessarily a result of his wife, Rachel, telling the 60-year-old retired businessman to get out of the house. But it was pretty close.

“She said, ‘You need a passion,’” the former head of Stearnswood said.

With that, Stearns, who once was the treasurer of the District 423 Board of Education, decided he would run to replace his friend, Kay Peterson, who is not seeking re-election. He made his decision late in the filing period and opted to run in the seven-person race for Seat 4.

Stearns has an extensive background in business, having served on the Blue Cross of Minnesota board, and of First Federal Bank before its sale to MidCountry. He said he can bring that experience to the council.

“I’ve got the time and I’ve surely got the experience,” he said. “I think it must be a genetic defect of the Stearns family, we do a lot of community service. I’m not particularly a change agent, but I think at times I can be a thought leader.”

For more on Stearns, read the Leader’s Aug. 26 print edition.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)