Tensions already rising between Lawson and Gillum ahead of likely U.S. House primary battle

Al Lawson at a Citizens for Responsible Spending press conference in September

Ever since the Florida Supreme Court ordered the Fifth Congressional District of Florida to be redrawn “in an east-west manner” on July 9, FAMU alumni Alfred “Al” Lawson and Andrew Gillum’s names have circulated as potential candidates. Both have kept the door open to jumping into the August primary race for the seat currently held by FAMU alumna Corrine Brown.

District 5 will remain a minority-access seat with about 45 percent black voters under the new map that was approved by the Florida Supreme Court on December 2.

Lawson, a former state senator, appears to have already come out swinging against Gillum.

Two months after the July 9 court ruling on District 5, Lawson took part in a September 15 press conference organized by a group called “Citizens for Responsible Spending” (CRS). It took aim at the 23 percent property tax increase proposed by Tallahassee City Manager Anita Favors Thompson to help pay for 18 new police officer jobs.

Lawson and the other CRS members opposed the recommended tax hike and said that the city should come up with the money for the new police positions by making budget cuts.

“The most responsible thing that we can do is look at alternatives,” Lawson said in quote in the Tallahassee Democrat. “Look at alternatives before you raise any kind of taxes.”

According to the Democrat, “Citizens for Responsible Spending presented an alternative spending plan — including a $100,000 cut to the mayor’s $477,000 office budget.” Gillum is the mayor of Tallahassee.

Gillum defended his office’s budget at a commission meeting the next day and accused some of the CRS members of making “flat out false and misleading” statements. He later supported a 4-1 vote on September 24 to raise Tallahassee property taxes by 13 percent.

The 13 percent property tax hike in Tallahassee could continue to be an issue of debate between Lawson and Gillum if both of them decide to throw their hats into the ring for the Democratic primary in District 5 that will take place on August 30, 2016.