Battle for the State Senate: Hukill beats Bruno in West Volusia chamber straw poll in DeLand

Dorothy HukillFrank BrunoState Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, and Volusia County Chair Frank Bruno, D-Ponce Inlet, are term-limited in their current seats and so they're vying for the dist. 8 state senate seat in the November elections. They are not in the Aug. 14 primary because they have no party challengers in their November race for state senate district 8, with incumbent Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach also term limited. 

PORT ORANGE -- Their State Senate showdown isn't until November, but Republican Dorothy Hukill is chomping at the bit against her Democratic opponent, Frank Bruno: "We just won the West Volusia Regional Chamber straw ballot with over 65% of the vote! Thank you for all your support - onward to November!"

That's what she wrote on her Facebook candidate page Thursday night.

Hukill and Bruno are two of the more recognizable names in Volusia County politics and bragging rights are on the line between their respective parties with Democrats dominating the non-partisan County Council where Bruno is the outgoing chair and Republicans control the statehouse seats with Hukill as an outgoing state representative for Southeast Volusia.

Bruno could not be reached for comment late Thursday night, as Hukill supporters on her Facebook page were raving over her straw poll win.

Kurt Wettermann of Wetterman Homes of Deltona wrote: "Great news! Thank you Dorothy for working to help business and not thinking we didn't do it on our own!"

Marci Trapuzzano of Port Orange, wrote: "You go girl! Whaaaahoooo!"

Deborah Barber Garreau didn't mince words in her support for Hukill: "This is the best news I've heard in a long time, Dorothy. You need to mop the floor with him and looks like you're doing it. Sorry I cannot vote for you this year since we moved but I can pray for you!"

Deborah Barber Garreau didn't mince words in her support for Hukill: "This is the best news I've heard in a long time, Dorothy. You need to mop the floor with him and looks like you're doing it. Sorry I cannot vote for you this year since we moved but I can pray for you!"

Hukill's 10 p.m. Facebook posting drew 17 comments in all.