Politics

HD 27: Interesting Battle Shaping Up for Open Seat Representing Volusia County

By: Kevin Derby | Posted: July 28, 2012 3:55 AM

Around the State

David Santiago and George Trovato

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.

Tags: AFL-CIO, David Santiago, Dorothy Hukill, FEA, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Florida House, Fraternal Order of Police, George Trovato, News, Volusia County, Politics

Comments (2)

Foxtrot

2:35AM JUL 30TH 2012

Well George Trovato is definitely a corrupt looney. This site really exposes him well for who he really is:

TruthAboutTrovato.com

Just Me

9:14AM AUG 6TH 2012

First off Foxtrot you misspelled the word "loony" there is no "e" in it at all. Second, that site is pretty ridiculous.

Especially that video in which they are supposedly filming his car.

1. The person in the video does not ask the mechanic if he is a legal citizen or not - he does not engage the guy at all.

To assume he is an illegal based on looks alone is just plain racist and slanderous.

2. How did said person know that was Trovato's car? Are they stalking him?

3. Ok, so he zooms in at a cat towards the end of the video....OCD much?

I think material like that hosted there invalidates the entire site. Apparently, the creator must have a personal vendetta against Trovato. I'll get my news from legit places thanks.