GOP buys $2 million of ad time for local Senate race

We need to beat Hukill. Is Frank Bruno up for the challenge?

The Republican Party of Florida has locked in $2 million worth of television-advertising time for Senate candidate Dorothy Hukill, in what will be one of the most expensive legislative races in Florida this fall.

Hukill, a state representative from Port Orange, is running against Democratic Frank Bruno, the countywide elected chairman of Volusia County, in Senate District 8 — a tossup district that runs from New Smyrna Beach to Ocala. Much of the area is currently represented by moderate Republican Sen. Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach, who is retiring this fall because of term limits.

The $2 million figure is based on a review of advertising contracts the state Republican Party has signed with Orlando's four main broadcast-TV network affiliates for ad time through Nov. 6. It does not include advertising time on local cable-TV channels, meaning the total amount the GOP will spend is even higher.

Hukill, who is perhaps best known for sponsoring controversial legislation to scale back growth-management rules and deregulate many professions, also is likely to get help from outside groups. Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, said his organization will be helping both Hukill and state Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, who is running against Republican personal-injury lawyer Will McBride in Senate District 14, which includes parts of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-10/news/os-republicans-buy-ads-for-dorothy-hukill-20120910_1_dorothy-hukill-senate-district-evelyn-lynn