State Senator Dorothy Hukill Passes Away at 72 After Battling Cervical Cancer

By  //  October 2, 2018

Hukill represented District 14, which includes Southern Volusia and Northern Brevard

ABOVE VIDEO: State Senator Dorothy Hukill, 72, passed away on Tuesday afternoon after losing her battle with cervical cancer. (Volusia County Republican Party video)

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – State Senator Dorothy Hukill, 72, passed away on Tuesday afternoon after losing her battle with cervical cancer.

A member of the Republican Party, Hukill, represented House District 14, which includes northern Brevard County and southern Volusia County, announced last Friday on her Facebook page that she was withdrawing from the race and would not seek re-election because she, “experienced an aggressive recurrence” of her cancer.

The announcement of her passing was also made on Facebook by her son, Jonathan Hukill.

“We have some sad news to report: Dorothy has passed away peacefully in hospice care surrounded by her family.”

The message went on to read, “Dorothy was many things. Before everything else, she put her family first. She was a faithful daughter, a loving wife, and a caring mother. She also took great pride in her work, the work of improving the lives of people she cared about.”

“Whether as a schoolteacher helping young children, a legal advocate for those who needed help, or a public servant fighting on behalf of her constituents’ causes, she threw herself completely into serving others.”

Hukill was born in New York City in 1946 but called Port Orange her home.

Hukill attended Hunter College, which is part of the City University of New York system where she earned her B.A. in 1967. She then attended Columbia University, graduating with her Master’s degree in 1970.

Hukill would then attend St. John’s University School of Law graduating in 1978 and then began her career practicing law.

ABOVE VIDEO: Florida State Senator Dorothy Hukill spoke with Space Coast Daily’s Alan Zlotorzynski following the State of the State Breakfast held on June 29, 2017, at the Hilton Rialto in Melbourne. 

She moved to Ponce Inlet, Florida in 1988 where she began her career as a politician serving as a Councilwoman from 1992 to 1994. Hukill later moved to Port Orange, serving as its Vice Mayor from 1998 to 2000 and its Mayor from 2000 to 2004.

Hukill then served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2004 to 2012.

Unable to seek a fifth term in the Florida House of Representatives due to term limits and the redrawing of the state’s legislative districts, Hukill ran for the Florida Senate defeating the Democratic nominee Frank Bruno.

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As a Legislator Hukill  sponsored legislation that would allow manufacturers to “not have to pay a sales tax on equipment purchased in a three-year period beginning in April 2014,” declaring, “The single biggest expense manufacturers have is equipment costs.”

Hukill took a strong stance against legislation that would “collect sales tax when Florida residents make online purchases,” voting against it in committee.  She was named the County Veterans Service Officers Association of Florida, Legislator of the Year in 2009-2010.

Hukill was unable to participate in the 2017 legislative session as she was recovering from surgery for cervical cancer.

Hukill was a member of  the Florida and Volusia County Bar Association as well as a member of the Volusia/Flagler Association for Women Lawyers

Florida State Senator Dorothy Hukill was chair of the Senate Education Committee, as well as vice chair of the Regulated Industries Committee and of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources. (Image by DorothyHukill.com)
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Her education and her career as a teacher and lawyer served her and the citizens of Florida well in Tallahassee.

She was chair of the Senate Education Committee, as well as vice chair of the Regulated Industries Committee and of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Environment and Natural Resources.

Politicians from all over are sending their condolences to the Hukill family.

President of the Florida Senate, Joe Negron, rereleased following statement on Twitter.

A private, invitation-only family service will be held, while public services will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy’s family asks that you consider a donation to the Halifax Health Hospice facility in Port Orange, whose dedicated and caring staff took such wonderful care of her in these last days.

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