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Tom Wright (politician)

[[Florida's 8th Senate district|8th district]] (2022–present)"}},"i":0}}]}"> Tom A. Wright is an American businessman and Republican politician who has served as a member of the...

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Tom A. Wright is an American businessman and Republican politician who has served as a member of the Florida Senate since 2018. Wright represents the 8th district, encompassing parts of Brevard and Volusia counties.

Florida Senate

Incumbent Dorothy Hukill died of cervical cancer on October 2, 2018, just over a month before the election. A six-member panel of Republican Party officials from Brevard and Volusia counties selected Wright as Hukill's replacement.[1]

Because ballots for the November 6, 2018 general election had already been printed by the time Wright was named as Hukill's replacement, his name did not appear on the ballot; instead, votes for Hukill were counted as votes for Wright. Wright was elected with 56.33% of the vote, defeating Democrat Melissa "Mel" Martin.[2]

Potential resignation

On April 6, 2020, Wright resigned from the Florida Senate citing a "staff control dispute," but rescinded his resignation the following week to remain in office.[3][4]

Domestic Violence Shelter altercation

In September 2023, Wright was involved in an "angry confrontation" with a domestic violence shelter employee; Daytona Beach Police officers were dispatched to intervene and investigate.[5][6] Six year before the incident, Wright had been banned from the facility for "inappropriate and lewd behavior" after he allegedly "flirted with and preyed on a young mother" who was fleeing Hurricane Irma with her infant.[7] In response to the altercation, Florida Senate president Kathleen Passidomo described the allegations as "troubling."[8]Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried called for a "full and transparent investigation" into the events and said: "There is no excuse for Sen. Wright to lay a hand on anyone, much less a woman working to protect her clients at a shelter for abused women."[9] Following an investigation, the Daytona Beach Police Department issued Wright a "warning" for trespassing and ordered him to stay off the property.[10]

Personal life

A native of Iowa, Wright moved to Florida in 2004.[11] He lives in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.[3]

References

  1. ↑Harper, Mark (11 October 2018). "Republicans tap Tom Wright of New Smyrna to replace Dorothy Hukill in Senate race". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  2. ↑"Florida Election Watch - State Senator". floridaelectionwatch.gov. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. 12Harper, Mark (April 16, 2020). "State Sen. Tom Wright of NSB resigns, then reverses himself". Florida Today. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  4. ↑Connolly, Kevin (April 17, 2020). "GOP Florida Senator for Parts of Volusia, Brevard Quits, Changes Mind". Spectrum News. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  5. ↑Harper, Mark (September 2, 2023). "Senator angrily confronts domestic violence worker after shelter leadership resignations". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  6. ↑Schweers, Jeffrey (September 18, 2023). "'He came at me:' Director describes tense confrontation with senator at women's shelter". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  7. ↑Donlevy, Katherine (September 21, 2023). "Florida pol banned from women's shelter for flirting with survivor years before accosting CEO". New York Post. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  8. ↑Dunbar, John; Harper, Mark (September 23, 2023). "Senate president calls Wright's allegations against women's shelter 'troubling'". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  9. ↑Scheckner, Jesse (September 22, 2023). "Nikki Fried demands investigation of Tom Wright after altercation at domestic violence shelter". Florida Politics. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  10. ↑Harper, Mark (September 5, 2023). "Police order senator to stay off domestic abuse shelter property after confrontation". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  11. ↑"The Florida Senate". flsenate.gov. Retrieved 17 December 2018.