GOP State Rep. Dorothy Hukill didn't' wait long to go on the offensive against Volusia County Chairman Frank Bruno, a Democrat, in the race for the state senate now that qualifying for the 2012 elections is over.PORT ORANGE -- It's on!
Just an hour and 1 minute after today's noon deadline to qualify to run in the 2012 elections, Republican State Rep. Dorothy Hukill threw the first stone in her heated race for the state senate against Democrat Frank Bruno, Volusia County chairman.
Both are term-limited in their respective elected positions. The winner gets the reworked district 8 State Senate seat held by term-limited Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach. The newly carved District 8 -- configured because of the census -- covers most of Volusia County and large portions of Lake County and Marion County.
Because both have no primary opponents, their contest -- clearly the hottest in Volusia County -- will go down to the bitter end in the November elections when locals will also be casting votes for the presidency of the United States.
Hukill's camp put out a press releases headlined in capital letters: "DOROTHY HUKILL QUALIFIES FOR STATE SENATE BALLOT BY PETITION; 1,700+ CITIZEN SIGNATURES SHOWS STRONG LOCAL SUPPORT FOR HER CAMPAIGN; OPPONENT BRUNO BUYS HIS WAY ONTO BALLOT."
Her release stated she has "officially qualified for the November 2012 ballot by petition."
To qualify, Hukill’s campaign collected more than 1,700 signed petition forms from residents of District 8. "This important achievement shows Hukill’s broad-based support in the district and is an early indicator of public opinion ahead of November’s much-anticipated election," the media release stated. "In what must be considered a setback for her opponent’s campaign, Democrat Frank Bruno was unable or unwilling to collect signed petitions from the citizens of District 8. Instead, Bruno chose to buy his way onto the ballot by paying a fee of $1,781.82."
Hukill was quoted as saying, "I’m humbled by this huge showing of support from the local community. As a public servant, I consider it an important part of our democratic process to seek approval from the voters themselves in order to get on the ballot. I’m honored to have earned the trust of so many friends and neighbors during my time in elected office, and I pledge to continue representing the citizens to the best of my ability as their State Senator.”
The Hukill camp pulled no punches in questioning Bruno's muscle: "Questions remain as to why Bruno, who often touts his supposed support from the “Who’s Who” of Volusia County, did not qualify by petition despite being a candidate for State Senate for over a year and a career politician on the Volusia County Council since 1982.
Headline Surfer put in a call with a detailed message for comment from Bruno and is awaiting his response.
Since 2004, Hukill has served as state representative for district 28, which significantly overlaps the district 8 senate seat.
Editor's Note: Hukill has written a twice-monthly blog for Headline Surfer for four years and Bruno has been a blogger since the beginning of the year. Both will be participating in a Headline Surfer debate after the Aug. 14 primary.