Lawson’s response to Brown reelection filing: “Go Gata!”

Florida A&M alumnus Alfred “Al” Lawson was unfazed when asked to respond to Corrine Brown’s decision to file for reelection in the Fifth Congressional District of Florida. The news came less than a week after Lawson announced that he would enter the Democratic primary in the newly redrawn district that now includes Leon County.   

“She keeps saying that Tallahassee has nothing in common with Jacksonville and that kind of offends some people,” Lawson said in a quote published by POLITICO Florida.

This summer, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the state’s congressional districts unconstitutional and ordered a new map drawn. Following a special session and continued litigation, the trial court adopted and the Florida Supreme Court approved a map that created a new district for the communities of North Florida, stretching from Tallahassee and Gadsden County to Jacksonville. District 5 formerly ran north-south from Duval County to Orange County.

Brown, who is also a graduate of FAMU, has filed a federal lawsuit against the new map.

“She plans to run in the current district, district 5,” said Brown spokesman David Simon in quote published by the Tampa Bay Times. “I’m sure you know, she does not think the district will change and has filed a federal suit to keep district five's boundaries as they are.”

Lawson recently said he believes that Brown is leaning toward entering the race for the redrawn District 10, a new minority-access seat that would include parts of Orange County that she currently represents.

Back in October, Florida Times-Union reporter Tia Mitchell wrote about the rumors that Brown was thinking about throwing her hat in the ring for the redrawn District 10. Mitchell wrote in December that: “Brown’s ‘Statement of Candidacy’ form, filed last week after I inquired about her status, lists District 5 as the office she is pursuing. She could change her mind later and file a new form.”

Lawson, who holds degrees from FAMU and Florida State University, added quips about Brown’s fondness for University of Florida paraphernalia. FAMU and FSU have both faced off against the Gators on the gridiron.

“Showing up in Gator colors in Tallahassee, I don’t know about that,” Lawson told POLITICO Florida.

POLITICO Florida also reported that Lawson took a laughter-filled jab at a 2009 statement that Brown delivered in the U.S. House to celebrate the Gators’ football championship.

“Go Gata!” Lawson said.