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Dorothy Hukill

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Dorothy Hukill
Member of the Florida Senate
In office
November 6, 2012 – October 2, 2018
Preceded byRedistricted
Succeeded byTom A. Wright
Constituency8th district (2012–2016)
14th district (2016–2018)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 28th district
In office
November 2, 2004 – November 6, 2012
Preceded bySuzanne Kosmas
Succeeded byJason Brodeur
Personal details
Born(1946-09-20)September 20, 1946
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedOctober 2, 2018(2018-10-02) (aged 72)
Port Orange, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materHunter College (BA)
Columbia University (BA)
St. John's University School of Law (JD)
ProfessionAttorney, teacher

Dorothy L. Hukill (September 20, 1946 – October 2, 2018) was an American politician who was a Republican member in the Florida Senate who represented parts of the Volusia County area from 2012 until her death in 2018. She represented the 14th district, encompassing southern Volusia and northern Brevard Counties, since 2016, after being redistricted from the 8th district, which included parts of Volusia, Lake, and Marion Counties. She also served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 28th district in southern Volusia from 2004 to 2012.

Biography

Hukill was born in New York City, New York, and attended Hunter College, which is part of the City University of New York system, where she graduated with her bachelor's degree in 1967. She later attended Columbia University, graduating with her master's degree in 1970, and graduated from the St. John's University School of Law in 1978 and began practicing law. In 1988, Hukill moved to Florida, initially settling in Ponce Inlet, where she served as a Councilwoman from 1992 to 1994. She later moved to Port Orange, serving as its Vice Mayor from 1998 to 2000 and its Mayor from 2000 to 2004.[1]

Florida Legislature

Florida House of Representatives

In 2004, when incumbent Democratic State Representative Suzanne Kosmas was unable to seek an additional term in the House due to term limits, Hukill ran to succeed her in the 28th District, which stretched from Oak Hill to Ponce Inlet in southern Volusia County. She won the Republican primary uncontested, and advanced to the general election, where she faced Jim Ward, the Democratic nominee and, like Hukill, a former Mayor of Port Orange, and independent candidate Richard Paul Dembinsky. The Orlando Sentinel praised both candidates as "intelligent and experienced," but ultimately endorsed Hukill over Ward, praising her "blunt and assertive 'get-it-done' style."[2] Ultimately, she narrowly defeated Ward, winning 51% of the vote to his 47% and Dembinsky's 2%. Running for re-election in 2006, Hukill was challenged by William Smalley, the Democratic nominee. She campaigned on her record in the legislature of creating a solar energy program that "awards grants for residential and business solar-energy systems," and pledged to expand the program to attract manufacturers to the state in her second term.[3] Hukill managed to increase her margin of victory, scoring 57% of the vote to Smalley's 43%. She faced Smalley once again in 2008, and defeated him handily once again, receiving 62% of the vote to his 38%. Running for her final term in 2010, Hukill was challenged in the Republican primary by Teresa Valdes, who argued that businesses in the state were "overtaxed." The Sentinel endorsed Hukill, whom they praised for her "solid leadership record," over Valdes, whom they criticized for lacking "thoughtfulness."[4] Hukill easily defeated her opponent to win renomination, and won the general election in a landslide against only write-in opposition.

Florida Senate

In 2012, when Hukill was unable to seek a fifth term in the Florida House of Representatives due to term limits and the state's legislative districts were redrawn, she opted to run for the Florida Senate in the newly created 8th District. She won the Republican primary uncontested, and advanced to the general election, where she faced Frank Bruno, the Chairman of the Volusia County Council and the Democratic nominee. A contentious election ensued, with both Hukill and Bruno raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for their campaigns,[5] and both the Florida Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Florida spending millions of dollars to promote their candidacies, though as the election grew closer, Bruno's supporters declined to expand their advertising on his behalf.[6] The Orlando Sentinel strongly endorsed Bruno over Hukill, criticizing her for serving as "a loyal soldier for House GOP leaders" during her time in the legislature and for sponsoring "some truly bad bills," and for her refusal to condemn what they referred to as a "ridiculous" advertisement featuring actors with "exaggerated Italian-American accents" that portrayed Bruno as Volusia County's "political boss."[7] Ultimately, however, despite the perceived closeness of the race, Hukill overwhelmingly defeated Bruno, receiving 57% of the vote to Bruno's 43%.

While serving in the Senate, Hukill sponsored legislation that would allow manufacturers to "not have to pay a sales tax on equipment purchased in a three-year period beginning in April 2014,"[8] declaring, "The single biggest expense manufacturers have is equipment costs."[9] Hukill took a strong stance against legislation that would "collect sales tax when Florida residents make online purchases," voting against it in committee.[10]

Hukill's senate district was reconfigured and renumbered after court-ordered redistricting in 2016.

Health and death

On September 28, 2018, Hukill announced that she would not seek reelection and was entering hospice care due to complications of cervical cancer.[11] She died from the illness on October 2, 2018.[12]

References

  1. ^ Votesmart.com.-Dorothy Hukill
  2. ^ "Hukill In District 28". Orlando Sentinel. October 23, 2004. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  3. ^ Lelis, Ludmilla (October 31, 2006). "Insurance cost is motivator in District 28 race". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  4. ^ "Our Endorsements: For Florida House District 28". Orlando Sentinel. July 29, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  5. ^ "Florida Senate District 8: Bruno, Hukill in hotly contested race". Ocala Star-Banner. October 28, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  6. ^ Garcia, Jason (October 17, 2012). "Democratic hopes fade in Volusia Senate race". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "Fla. Senate Districts 8, 15". Orlando Sentinel. October 13, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  8. ^ Dunkelberger, Lloyd; Anderson, Zac (May 1, 2013). "Flurry of bills clears way for session to end on time". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Wallace, Jeremy (May 5, 2013). "Gov. Scott's legislative session called his best so far". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  10. ^ Dunkelberger, Lloyd (April 11, 2013). "Internet sales tax advances". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  11. ^ Rohrer, Gary (September 28, 2018). "Sen. Dorothy Hukill, facing cancer again, enters hospice care". Orlando Sentinel.
  12. ^ Koh, Elizabeth (October 2, 2018). "State Sen. Dorothy Hukill dies at 72". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
Florida House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 28th district
2004–2012 		Succeeded by
Florida Senate
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 8th district
2012–2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Florida Senate
from the 14th district
2016–2018 		Succeeded by
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