Hutchinson Shows Love For Its Hometown Star

HUTCHINSON, Minn. (WCCO) -- It's election season in Hutchinson, with campaign signs for mayor, city council and even president.

But one name overshadows them all.

Signs showing support for Whalen -- Lindsay Whalen.

"We're very excited that Lindsay is from Hutchinson, and I think it's awesome that everybody is showing her our pride," Bonnie Karl said.

The signs started showing up after Whalen won the Olympics, and now they're on lawns all over town.

A local man gets them printed and sells them at cost -- even to her favorite gift shop.

"I bought one for the front, one for the back, so I have two of them," Joanne Willmert said.

Ron McGraw has known Whalen since she was in sixth grade and keeps her latest headlines on a wall in his law firm.

He isn't surprised by the support.

"I thought they'd probably name Hutchinson Whalen before we're all done," McGraw said. "You know how that goes."

It's plain to see how the Hutchinson kids worship her when Whalen held a clinic in her hometown.

"Great to know the people of Hutchinson are behind their athletes, no matter what, so it's a great feeling," Whalen said.

Whalen is busy trying to win a championship. But with all those signs of support, we had to wonder, what if?

" Who would win if she ran for office? The rest would withdraw," McGraw said. "They wouldn't even have the election."

One other sign of support, a neighborhood in Hutchinson reported that the regular election signs were all stolen, but the Whalen signs were left untouched.