Mel Martin demands debate with new SD 14 opponent Tommy Wright

Melissa Martin 021918

Democratic state Senate candidate Mel Martin issued a demand to debate new Republican opponent Tommy Wright in the race to succeed the late Dorothy Hukill.

“The voters of Senate District 14 are long overdue a debate on the issues that affect their families and communities,” Martin said. “They deserve to hear from both of us on health care, education, economic development and the Indian River Lagoon for starters.”

Martin initially challenged Hukill for re-election this year, but health problems largely kept Hukill from the trail.

In late September, Hukill announced an aggressive recurrence of cancer, and that she had to withdraw from the campaign to enter hospice care. Days later, she died.

Last week, Republican leaders named Wright as Hukill’s replacement nominee. The New Smyrna Beach businessman and longtime Republican activist provided financial support to the party in Volusia County for years.

“I am a self-made businessman, I have no one that I owe or am beholden to,” Wright wrote in a submission to Republican leaders.

“Through hard work, I have been blessed with business success, and I know firsthand what it takes to run a business, make payroll, live within a budget and make the tough decisions that come with running a business.”

Hukill’s name still appears on the ballot, but votes cast for her will now count for Wright.

So far, Wright has yet to face Martin in any sort of public forum.

Indeed, Martin said many organizations attempting to set up debates couldn’t get a return call. But she says negative advertising already started popping up against her in the election.

Martin won’t return that in kind she said (though she did say in an interview with Florida Politics that Wright’s selection seemed like “a business decision” by Republicans).

“I’d like us all to raise the bar of public expectations in the marketplace of ideas and restore civility and humility in our search for truth,” she said.

“As debates are the best, most American way for folks in District 14 to learn about us and our respective ideas, I hope Mr. Wright will find time to oblige.”

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].


3 comments

  • Greg Flynn

    October 17, 2018 at 3:39 pm

    Daring an opponent to debate is not exactly a demand. Is this a bias showing, trying to make Mel Martin look hostile, or just misinterpretation of her challenge?

  • Barbara East

    October 17, 2018 at 5:12 pm

    The first sentence in her press release states “Melissa Martin, Democratic candidate for Florida State District 14, issues an open challenge to civil debate anywhere in-district.” That certainly doesn’t sound like a demand to me, but a civil challenge. Why make her sound like something she’s not?

  • Richard Paul Dembinsky

    October 19, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    Unfortunately, the democratic party candidate has zero chance of winning. I know for a fact that 73,499 votes will be the maximum Mel Martin will secure. Dorothy Hukill is on the ballot and it is those 138,000 people who loved her will vote for her name rather than a democrat or NPA….I know this for a fact. Give UP it is over Mel…

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