Frank Bruno, the Volusia County Chairman, is moving ahead with his bid for the State Senate District 7 seat, currently held by Evelyn Lynn.
Bruno formally announced his candidacy for the 2012 race in Daytona Beach today, touting his background as an Army veteran and businessman (owner of his own printing company for 23 years) and his long history in local politics.
Perhaps a sign of an interesting race to come: Daytona Beach Mayor Glenn Ritchey, a Republican, gave a very flattering introduction for Bruno, a diehard Democrat.
“My professional and volunteer work over 40 years in this area has given me an appreciation for this wonderful part of Florida and I want to do everything I can to ensure its future is as bright and promising,” Bruno said, speaking before a small crowd of party faithful, veterans, and his family.
A crucial issue will be the future shape of District 7, as the State Legislature redraws district lines next year. The district currently encompasses much of Volusia, but stretches west to Marion County, and northward into Putnam and Clay counties.
His main competitor for the seat is none other than Dorothy Hukill, a Port Orange Republican, State Representative for District 28 and co-chair of the redistricting subcommittee. (Volusia political insiders will be watching this one closely, with a few pundits already wondering whether the districts might be drawn to exclude Bruno’s hometown of Ponce Inlet from District 7.)
Bruno acknowledged the redistricting today but hoped that Volusia County, with nearly half a million residents, would not be as split into as many districts as it is now.
When asked about Hukill, Bruno said: “She has a lot of advantages, being in Tallahassee but I have a lot of advantages, being here, on the ground and working with the citizens of Volusia County,” he said. “I know this community inside and out.”
“It’s more than your connections in Tallahassee,” he said.
