With Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, facing term limits and running for a seat in the Florida Senate, an interesting battle is developing to see who will represent the southern part of Volusia County in the Florida House of Representatives.
Two candidates are battling for the Republican nomination in the Aug. 14 primary in HD 27 and David Santiago, an Army veteran and a former Deltona city commissioner, has a solid lead in the money chase.
Since entering the race at the end of March, Santiago has raised almost $46,000 and relied on more than $800 through in-kind donations. As of July 20, he had spent more than $30,600 so far in the campaign, including more than $20,000 spent since July 7. Santiago has garnered the endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
But Santiago does not have an open shot at the Republican nomination. George Trovato, who served as city attorney for Deltona, is also running on the Republican side. As of July 6, Trovato has not been able to keep up with Santiago in fundraising, raising only $175 from outside sources and relying on $4,350 in loans. He has spent more than $3,500 since entering the contest in April.
Whoever emerges from the Republican primary will face a major Democratic opponent in November who has been building a solid war chest and has kept most of his campaign money -- most of which came from loans -- in the bank.
Dennis Mulder, who served as mayor of Deltona from 2005 until 2010, jumped in the race back in early May and he faces no opposition for the Democratic nomination. Mulder has won the backing of many government employees organizations and organized labor, including the AFL-CIO, the FEA and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Mulder has relied on his own money, loaning the campaign more than $34,300 by July 6. He has raised more than $10,900 in donations and has relied on more than $13,800 through in kind-donations. So far, Mulder has been content to keep his powder dry, spending less than $5,900 from his war chest.
Mulder and the Republican candidate will be the only candidates on the November ballot.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0958.
