Dorothy Hukill
| Dorothy Hukill | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Florida Senate from the 14th district 8th (2012-2016) |
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Assumed office November 6, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Redistricted |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 28th district |
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In office November 2, 2004 – November 6, 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Suzanne Kosmas |
| Succeeded by | Redistricted |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 20, 1946 New York City, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater |
Hunter College (B.A.) Columbia University (M.A.) St. John's University School of Law (J.D.) |
| Profession | Attorney, teacher |
Dorothy L. Hukill (born September 20, 1946) is a Republican member of the Florida Senate who has represented parts of the Volusia County area since 2012. She has 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 previously served in the Florida House of Representatives, representing the 28th district in southern Volusia from 2004 to 2012.
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.
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." 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. 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." Hukill easily defeated her opponent to win renomination, and won the general election in a landslide against only write-in opposition.
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